This is too funny!

Let Levi Cry....Very funny. The site was registered by trek...thinly veiled BS...

http://www.deraileduk.com/letlevicry/

Friday Lame and Random Stuff

It is cold again....Bring spring back.


I am not sure what is lamer: Someone checking out their X's Match.com profile or the X lying about her age on it...I think checking the post might be lamer....not sure though.


Brooklyn Machine Works SR6 collection: took a trip to BK to check out BMW and I am really digging what they are doing these days. The new SR 8 proto type DH bike was on hand and looking totally rad in light blue paint. Felt positively light weight with DT 5.1 Rim and a super choice build including lighter weight rubber and a few pieces of carbon dripped over the chain retention system. Still a Brooklyn, but ripped down to a leaner and cleaner beast. I will post pictures soon of the new rig...Pictures are currently verbotten.

They also had a new 26 inch wheeled cruiser/single speed that looked pretty sweet...a little less burly than the normal Brooklyn. The bikes seem to be evolving into a more ride able machine.
SpeedVagon: this may be next years bike. Not sure how to get on but they are so rad...made by Vanilla, true artist of the wheel, these are purpose built race bikes with a steel integrated post. Cable routing through the seat post, and beautifully cut drop outs are justa few of the pretty pieces.

Pivoting drop out: Smart.

FastBoyFenders.com: the maker of fine fenders is also a mucho coolo picture taker as well. He is now making bikes and will be working with Arsbar at 650b to build out a proto. I am fan of his bikes and fenders so I am rooting for his success sooner, rather than later.
Other:
For those of you inclined to get the low down, the skinny or the fatty, on beef and the culture of the slaughter house as to what cuts are bitching:
www.beefaficionado.blogspot.com/

Monday Night Ride and the last of the good junk...

Met LD in the park for some laps. The generosity of the man who know no bike burly enough for him was slightly reciprocated in the form of a set of wheels: I gave him a set of wheels I am not using. Not that I am some great philanthropist, as LD has been more than generous over time.

Anyway, slapped the wheels on my back rode out to the park and did some laps. Was no big thing but I got a few stares.

Ray Alba, all around nice guy, joined us and we chatted about NYC skateboarders of the late 80's, spas in Queens and animal rescue.

The last of the good stuff: these are a set of rare Missy Giove proto type rims. Never built. Limited run. A rare find which I snagged a few years ago with the intention of building a Yeti early 90's project bike..It is sort of the last of the great rare bike stuff I own as I have been downsizing everything. Anyway, there they are...the last of good junk.

Blogs of note, pictures and other stuff that has caught my attention:

Insight via blogs or website posts by the people in the world is often the only way to remeber the great picture which is we co-habitate with so many . We as people cocoon into ourselves as a way to insulate ourselves...which often means we can be somewhat self centered. Reading people thoughts is a great way to know little about what else is going on outside of our world.

Here is some stuff I have dug on recently:


http://http://cruz.media.mit.edu/tomblog.nsf/archive/20080224-0856%20PM?OpenDocument&count=-1


What caught my eye? how cool is that this relationship is only bolstered by gear choice.
Oh yeah, I believe I've found the equation that allows Reenie and I to be more compatible on the road - 44 X 18 fixed, on both our bikes. She says it makes me slower I think it makes her faster, and so it goes...She did great on the fixed gear - 50 miles is a long way to go on your first fixed ride.



http://flickr.com/photos/seahorseatlanta/2282482068/



What caught my eye? I liked the story of the sexual "intercoastal"...great pictures by another random person that I can sort of guess of what is going on with her.

http://www.velonews.com/article/72871

What caught my eye? A velonews tech report more about everyday bikes instead of the latest and greatest carbon fiber doo dad that is made by unskilled laborers. A bike shop that jhas been around for over 100 years: it has seen almost seen the complete history of the bike world in Milan parade by. Jus the images of the old shop/work area are worth the gander.

http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2008/02/apparently-levi-wants-to-ride.html

What caught my eye? Just read it. “Let Trek Ride” and “Let Me Cut My Losses and Keep Quiet” are way funny.

BMX is mondo.

Winter Ride Recap:

Brr...Saturday laps in the park with LD. I wish I could say that it was beautiful..the winter wonder land...but it was sloppy, gritty and cold.

Yes it says 14...I could lie and say I was going up a really steep hill...but the truth is that I was probably going down hill. It is called the winter creep...

Mission Statement

What is my mission statement? I was pondering this on the subway this morning. Many companies have one as a way to focus their energies and remain faithful to their original vision.

What is my original vision? What do I want to focus on? What will be my life's mission statement and will I stay true to it?

Questions as vast as the Grand Canyon that need no answer today. But need to be answered one day.

What will be yours?

It sounds strange to say out loud but so many of the people I admire lived life with a focus or a purpose. In some cases the purpose was to be great artist or athlete. In other cases it was to live life as a great person exuding love and being better as a conscious person than most.

Anyway, that is where my mind was/is this morning.

More later. Feel sick after 4 cups of coffee this morning. Stupid.

The rare Saturday post...

The rare Saturday post is almost as rare as a Wildcard siting...I hear rumors, no actually innuendo, that he joined a small group of rebels in the fight to legalize Kettle Bell as a religion. Be strong brother, come back to the alter of the divine wheel where worship is to the true pursuit...Riding.

Jokes aside, I wonder what the wildcard is up to these days,...

LD is now the official photog of the MegaBottleRide.

Listening to Joe Strummer live in Brooklyn...I was there that night. I wish I had taken it in more. Who would have know that it was one of the last times he would play. I should have know to appreciate when one can.

Motivation is starting to stir within. Texted LD:
"Surfs up dude...31...cold and wet..." Who am I kidding? It sucks out. I wanted to ride mountain today but between the weather being crap and the bike not being done to the point where I would be happy I bagged on it...weak. FAAAK. Road ride is a poor substitute for dirt.

Now I am drinking coffee and listening to the jams that have served as my soundtrack to this thing i call life. Motivating. Motivating. Motivating....trying to motivate.

I have been wondering recently how often I have had choices that I have made on the fly that had dire consequences or major outcomes in my life. Just a small pin drop of a choice could alter my life. Could alter yours. Things like deciding to go back into the apartment to get a water bottle or wearing a certain t shirt could all have some strange outcome that we may have never been prepared for. Is that what makes life good? Those surprises? Those moments of chance?

No clue but I am going to think about it as LD got out of bed ( I would have stayed personally...warm bed...girl who does not mind your body totally pressed up to hers...soft music...or cold wet stupid bike ride?) and texted me back that surf is up and so the call arms pushes me into the fold between comfort and pain. The ride.

I will say it again: the call to arms pushes me into the fold between comfort and pain.

Random

Does not look like spring but it felt like spring.

New blog of note: some good pictures and has an interesting myth busters section. I dig the TV show so this section is preety good for office diversion.

http://kwc.org/

What I look forward to....

What I look forward to....

LD has the week off and was kind enough to send me this picture while he was out at Blue MTN...Jealous.

The business...atom bomb tan for all you who will sit in my wake...I will be riding the new girl this weekend. English stopper, Swiss wheels, and Boston steel make for a gorgeous girl who knows one speed should make for a happy boy....
Yes...no gears. Mmmm...no gears.
Sping preview:
Yesterday was like a preview of Spring: Warm weather,smiling faces and a ride that did not requiremotivation and discipline.I ended up hitting the park after taking care of abunch of errands in the morning including visiting theshop and dropping off my fork for my new mountainbike.It should be ready by Thursday/Friday if all goes wellwith my disk brakes...I can not wait to go mountainbiking saturday.
I got to the park a little early as I was meeting LD so I took a seat on one of the benches by the boathouse and chilled out for 45 minutes (he was late and I was early) which was so nice. I can notremember the last time I sat in the park like that.Really looking forward to the first spring nights whenI can picnic in the park after riding...LD arrived late and we spun easily in the park talking about who makes the best bikes, goingdownhilling as soon as the Diablo opens up and who is the best rider in the city. Typical boy BS for a couple of hours.Got rained on but kept on riding till it stopped.

Then we rode downtown and the sun came back out. I dropped my taxes off at my tax guy and treated myself to abialy at Kosar's (Kosars is on Grand which is my oldhood before I moved to Cali and they make a meanbialy...there is also the donut plant next door whichmakes the best donut on the planet. I was happy thatit was closed...). LD and I then ran around the lower east side going to shops and taking advantage ofthe warm weather. Then headed back home before itrained again...Anyway, to summarize it was one of the those rides that reminded me of how fun bike riding is. It was sunny out so the motivation factor did not need to behigh, and the weather was warm enough to just wearknickers and a wool jersey so it was like being totally liberated compared to the layers it requiresto ride in sub 35 degrees. Between legs feeling good and the weather It was a perfect day...and a previewof spring. Can't wait for spring.

Bike Friday:

Yesterday was Valentines day. I spent it with the one I loved: my bike. I rode till 9 at night spinning circles in the cold trying to stay focused on getting fit and building a base. A few sprints and two blocks of speed training by chasing the pack a hundred yards back for 5 minutes at a pop. I am looking forward to riding on something smoother and faster than cross tires. At least last night I had them pumped to 60 pounds...

Rock Racing: I wonder if Mike Ball backed his boys out because of the pressure of Puerto or because he remembere that he sells jeans and at some point people are going to realize they are way ugly and he should save his sheckels while he has them...It sort of sucks I was looking forward to seeing former poster boys Tyler Hamilton, Oscar Sevilla or Santiago Botero racing under the skull and cross bones.

http://www.velonews.com/article/72073

California Tour: Some pics from cycling news on the teams doing some pre-race training rides.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/feb08/california08/index.php?id=/photos/2008/feb08/california08/preride08/JD_tocprerides001

Tech Stuff: The French is translated a little weirdly on this site but these guys are prettyy smart when it comes to all stuff on road wheels: If I had the cash I would ask these guys to build up a set of their handmade ultra light all around wheels: DT spokes, Tune or Extralite hubs and normal spokes.

http://www.rouesartisanales.com/article-16575200.html

Sick Rig: belonged to Nick Chenowith, who has had some tough times as of recent between being involved in the EDS/Nothstein scandal and now being diagnosed with cancer. This bike which I puled from fixed gear galley (thanks guys) is a pretty amazing piece of work by Yamguchi. Ever since he built Mike Mccarthy bike for the worlds he won I have wanted one of these things...The art of steel.

Random Brooklyn Machine Works videos...

Random stuff...

Fixed...I feel silly now when I hesitate on techy stuff while riding full tilt plush with mucho gears and disc brakes when this kat is ripping fixed smooth like Hosoi in a bowl...Track bikes have become de rigeur by the hipster crowd along with way too tight pants and little girl t shirst...It is like they are trying to look wimpy or something...I am wimpy but i am not going out and highlighting...uhhh, wellat least I am not broadcasting it by wearing clothes that make for a off fashion statement.

Another branch of the bike world...Ansom rides for Brooklyn Machine Works...

Astana NOT TO RACE THE TOUR even though Alby Contador won it last year..

I started writing this blog last night and then the news hit....Astana not riding any sort of Tour De France this year unless they decide to pack their own saddle bags and do their own private Tour of France: The link below has the news....This is not great news for cycling. The French organizers have made a statement that is really based on rational and ethical foundations (2 plus years of cheating with Phonak...) but the consequences are dire as the sponsors wont stick around if they are not riding the tour...It is a step backwards and really gives insight to the polotical climate that is cycling: the french organizers must have been harboring tremendous resentment as to who was determining their future...furthermore, cycling is so small and rumors/stories go around in these circles, so it would not suprise me that Amaury knew the true inside scoop into the world of Postal/Disc/Astana: Bad habits die hard.
http://www.velonews.com/article/72000

Rumor mill notes...
There are rumors as to who and who can not ride the TDF and many ofthe other major bike races. BMC, a US based conti squad, is signalling that they may yet get an invite to the Paris ROubaix...which would come at the cost of a Pro Team spot.

Astana, High Road (the Old T-Mobile) and a few other teams are being threatened with being left out in the cold due to the fac they may have had some sort of ineudo, or an outright case of doping, in the last couple of years there is a mark against them. Even when the team had been overhauled: riders with a questionable past sent home with no contract swiftly and doctors who seem to be more interested in the sporting aspect rather than the medicinal needs had been given the boot.

Instead I think this means we will see a return to the more regional type of Tourthat occured in the 70's and early 80's...Teams that had relationships with the organizer were often brought (think ADR with Greg Lemond... which was not much of a team...although Mueseuw rode for them that year he had not done anything yet to speak of...) to races even though they were more akin to a well orginized club team than a true professional team....Which will be good for team like Slipstream and maybe even BMC because John Lelangue is at the helm of that team and he is close to the Amaury organization.

NAHMBS link dump and picture junk

NAHMBS link dump and picture junk

From what I have seen the NAHMBS has some really special bikes on display.

But what caught my attention was the colllabration between the DeSalvo and Vanilla bikes. Vanilla bikes work with DeSalvo bikes to create a series of bikes underthe Vanilla banner called SpeedVagen. In the Velonews coverage of the show it was highlighted that the owner of Vanilla bikes was planing on having more "guest builders" in on the SpeedVagen project.


The SpeedVagen projecct was designed to get race bikes in the hands of racers who otherwise may not be able to wait the 5 year waiting list to get one...they are also a little more machine than the typical piece of art that Vanilla kicks out.

I just thought it was cool that two companies, two individual builders at the top of their game, came together and worked on something together. It was cool for Vanilla to bring somebody in and so cool for DeSalvo to work with somebody with out having to slap his name on the project.

It was about the project/bike. (Mad props rap style: "Yo, it is about the kids, yo...")

Places with good pictures and coverage;
VeloNews.com
MTBR
Cycling news.com
BKW
Bicycling (yes, it makes me cringe to post that a Rodale Press rag has something valid to print...It died the day that Zap left the house.) had a nice little summary: http://thisjustin.bicycling.com/2008/02/built-by-hand.html
This guy has a nice set of flickr pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/track_daddy/sets/72157603879691246/

Bike pictures:

Black sheep cycles cruiser bike in Ti was curvy

IF lugs...mmmm.

Random girl with a cool t...

This is not steel...Carbon cut lugs.

Engin bikes...Sweet.

One of the greats.

Cold...Snap!

Yeah, it is cold today in the big apple. It started dropping last night and this morning it was the artic.

A fewthings come to mind:

• LD and very special lady friend are soaking it up in the sun of Mexico. Jealous.
• Does the pink IF dude commute in this?
• This better not screw with my riding plans.

Records of the day to day of cyclists, artists and others who live with a window of in sight for me to peer in.

In the last year, I have really started to enjoy reading other peoples blogs...in fact it takes up the bulk of my free computer time. I dont really watch TV anymore so for entertainment I like to read the records of the day to day of cyclists, artists and others who live with a window of in sight for me to peer in.

Most of the people who I read I dont know: They are just people who I am only connected to because of most likely a simalar interest in bikes.

Today, two things happened that was really interesting and maybe insightful. This morning I saw somebody who I know only from his blog:Sox. He was riding and he had stopped at the light. I knew it was him because of his bike. I stood there and blurted out that "you are sox." He nodded affirmately. "I read your blog on technology and bikes..." he then nodded again and rode off. Maybe he is not that social...I was sort of stunned by it. Oh well. I will still read his blog. It is good.

Then I had Arsbar thank me for posting a link to her site in my last post. Very cool. She lives somewhere south and rides a multitude of bikes with different set ups from the norm. I dont know her. I think she is trying to do a one picture a day thing which I tried a few years ago and failed. She could be tall: I am guessing that from the size of her bikes...anyway, I like her posts and seeing the different changes that may occur to her different sleds. She is a big wheel fan and I enjoy the updates on different tires or the pictures of the changes. She even has bikes in the kitchen!
Although her posts don't contain much insight into feelings, I like trying to get a sense of somebody through what they show people on their blog:food being eaten, weather and other stuff that on its own is benign in terms of insight....Many of the blogs I read i am never sure if I would be friends with that person, but I get to share a little of their world which sometimes is all that I need: struggles, solutions, rants and elation. It makes for a case of that we are more simalar than we might give each other credit for.

Anyway, thanks for the comment Arsbar. It adds a little more insight into the one way window that is your blog. Good stuff.

Other news: feeling run down today. Rode for alittle in the AM and called it quits as my leggs were sore from Thursday and 3 days of good training in the middleof the week...No overtraining: rest is good and not something to feel guilty about... Then started the building process of my race rig for the coming XC season...pictures of the pretty gal will be loaded soon.

Night rides, bike lust and other stuff that caught my attention...

Night rides, bike lust and other stuff that caught my attention...


Last night I headed out the door at 6 to roll a few laps in the park. As the temperature tumbled, I pondered a multitude of mental replays of the past 2 years. As I sub conciosly imagined spining small smooth circles like a pinwheel in the wind, I thought about how the trail that is my life has brought me through all sorts of stuff: good, bad and indifferent.

I caught what I thought was the pack ride after chasing for a half lap and after being informed by a snotty Sids Bike shop racer (http://www.sidsbikes.com/ ...I have bought a bunch of junk from them in the past including a bike in the last couple of years, but the 'tude rhymes with the french word for fly....which is "mouche" for those who don't speak the language...which really makes me want to stay away from the shop) that this was a private ride headed by "Zoltan"...It went something like this "how did you hear of this ride?""Shit man, I have been riding since 1988 in the park and as far as i can remember there has always been a pack ride." "So you were not invited to this ride then? It is a private ride led by Zoltan so please drop off...""Priavte ride?""Private ride."....

I would have sat up except that his attitude was so elist and bitch for me to take my marching orders from. Had he just said it nicely...Please is the magic word right? It amazes me how much much please and sorry is important to me.

And evidently a few South Americans sittting on thought so as well as they had some choice words for Zoltan and his "private ride"...Hand motions and few curse words later Zoltan himself was sitting at the back asking a Toga guy (who was right on the money for telling Zoltan off after the tall guy with the funny accent tried to cut him off trying to wreck him...or that is how it appeared from my perfect perspective at that the back...) to "respect the ride"...seriously I dont think any of the people who were sitting in on the back of the pack knew it was a private ride (private? come on...seriously what elist BS is that...I have never heard of such crap in NYC ) and I think we would have backed off, I know I would have dropped off even though I knew 4 or 5 people in the "private ride", but the BS from the dude withe 'tude who seriously rhymes with the french word for fly meant it was game on...Sorry Zoltan, you may be cool but you have a jack ass amidts your ranks...F-Sids....

I love Ti bikes....baggyhairymonkey.blogspot.com/

The Belgium Knee Warmers post is right on:


"Base miles are pennies in a piggy bank: They aren’t sexy, but they do add up."


Very cool: Portland has a great bike scene. Punk rock passion.

http://www.teamsofportland.com/

Blogs of Note:

Biker chick:
http://arsbars.com/
Photog chick:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samideluxe/
Pro wrench for t Mobile/High Road:
http://www.wrenchman.blogspot.com/

I have seen every sub culture in cycling now...

I thought the messenger sub culture breaed those who were really marching to a different step...but evidently the cult of the 3 speed is where it is at....

http://www.3speedtour.com/



If I lived near this event I would go! I am all about re-enacting the golden age English countryside three speed rides...This is a group of people who have a fine appreciation of cycling in a different era and really take it to the extreme to play the role...

I found this picture on velopix.blogspot.com/...thought it was funny because it looks lik ethe cat is impatiently waiting for his apres ride beer....

Puerto news:

This blurb on Velonews really shows how quickly the wind can change for pro cyclists...Francisco Mancebo, for example, saw his name in headlines for alleged links to Puerto and lost out on a million-dollar contract with Ag2r and is now racing in Portugal for 15,000 euros a season...serious head wind. Cheating is cheating but oh how the great have fallen. Tragic really.

Shadows in the Dark

Recently I have been enjoying global warming with après late night work rides. The shadows following and sometimes passing me either coming or going have been much of my company as I pedaled alone in the dark of Central Park.

Although warm weather brings the veal from their stalls like no other action in the world, few venture out after 9. The park is dark, with the only movement from the dog sized raccoons, the occasional runner and those who lurk in the shadows whether it is dark or light out.

The nights have been pleasant like wet, cool spring days minus the sunlight. Dress warm with eyewear to shield from the flying debris kicked up from my front wheel or the occasional light misting and comfort is yours.

The company has been minimal for the most part which has left me time with my thoughts. I have said occasionally that I do my best thinking on the bike and without the distraction from friends or fellow riders it has allowed me to catch up on the internal dialogue that we often do not listen to close enough due to the demands of work and social schedules.

As I focus energy to be smooth and to stay well within myself I recount the stories of recent and I am grateful for my friends. They are far better than I deserve. And while I don't say it out loud enough to those who I know who read this space, as for the most part I have been trained to say it too infrequently about anything other than food and objects, I love you all. I love you.

No matter how my day has gone I feel as if the Karma has made some restitution to what seems like a head wind these days. It is dark and yet my days seems a little brighter from the pedaling: I am better for the pedals that I turn while chasing my shadows in the dark.

Great cross video:

2008 Cyclocross World Championships Treviso Italy from Mat Barlow on Vimeo.

This is one of the best videos I have seen ever on cross racing: it really gives one the true impression of what a cross race is like.

Aftermath of Super Tuesday and Giants Parade in lower Manhattan

Hangover: NY/NJ is in a state of Stupid Bowl recovery after the Giants win the Superbowl. The commute downtown yesterday was crazy as everyone and their grandmother was comming from the outer boroughs/tri state area and converging on Wall Street. I can not remember ever seeing the subway so crowded...




It strikes me as funny that we would have such an incredible turn out for a parade celebrating a game on the day when we are voting for who will have the right to run as president in the election. It seems there was more interest in what happened on the prior sunday then what might happen in the next four years.


At least I get a bump up in my taxes in order to pay for the parade...and some how there have been budget cuts for education...Parade for a game that already happened or contributions to the youth of todays future...hmm.


Bush on the trail: At least he rides. I thought I would throw this link in due to the fact that we are amidts an election. Sometimes I find it hard to believe he does mountain bike when one considers his policies on the environment. I used to think that only touchy feely tree huggers would complain about the US policy towards the environment but the more I read the more I become disturbed.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtbphotos.php?id=/photos/2008/features/US_olympic_feb08/000_HKG2005112024180

Random quote: Someone sent me this. I thought it was pretty funny. It is sort of typical for cyclists to have an significant other who does not understand they need to ride.
I am teaching tonight and I am really stressed out and upset. My mood is horrible. Ross "dumped" me cause I have no time for him and he doesn't want to "wait around".
That's ok, I was going there anyway.


Final Sheldon thoughts: I went through his bike collection last night. I think bikes are a curious insight into what a person is like. Sheldon had a many homemade bikes along with a few tandems thrown in. DIY and bikes made for two. The world needs more people who make their own bikes and ride with some regularity on a tandem,

Random Bike Stuff:

Cannondale, the company that prided itself on being American above any other bike company, was just bought a Canadian company. A Canadian company!!

There have been rumors that Dorel Industries would be buying Cannondale to place alongside GT/Schwinn on their shelves. Cannondale is supposed to be the crown jewel within the company crown jewel representing/positioning the high end market.

Not sure what this will do for Cannondale which has made some good product as of recent...Historically any company that has been bought within the bike industry has gone to the crapper. Schwinn had Yeti in its stable and when they were bought there was nothing of note to ever emerge from that brand ever again. Other than the name, the company meant nothing.

I heard from a rep within the industry that Cannondale's sales were hurting...Which means that shop employees are probably getting better deals on their EP's...which is a good thing for them. Maybe that will be the only upside to the once great bike company.

Speaking of a once great bike companys: the king of cool, Yeti, the true innovator of the paleolithic period within mountainbiking has a little story on the founder on yetifan.com. Some interetsing observations from John Parker. John was the pioneer of oversize al, suspension, and with a eye for raw talent (Giove, Julie F, Tomac, Deaton and Miles to name a few). Interesting interview.

Sheldon Brown

Sheldon Brown passed on.

The hommage, to the man who was most know for creating a free resource on many technical aspects, on Belgian Knee Warmers is far better than anything I could hope to write.

http://www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/

While I never knew Sheldon, I did visit his site on many occasions. Sometimes to look at his bike collection, and other times to figure out some bike part dilema.

I feel as if I knew Sheldon becauseof the pictures he posted of his family and because of he time he took to develope the resource know as sheldonbrown.com. His site represented something special because it was him sharing a knowledge in which few had. Sharing is less common than we may think and that is why Sheldon's passing will resonate with so many of the faithful two wheeled devotees.

It is some sad news.

Weekend recap part dois: Sunday. A study of contrasts

A study of contrasts

Sunday the alarm went off at 6.30 and after fighting
the inclination to stay put in my bed (it is Sunday
for god sake..) I dressed warm, checked the
temperature (29 degrees) and headed out the door to
get a small coffee and a bagel. After the three cafe conleche debacle the prior day I decided against excess consumption of coffee.

I agreed to meet Dallas (think "Outsiders") at 7.15 at
Toga for what was to be promised as a "ripping" ride up to
Piermont and back.

Dallas is a corn fed Iowa boy built built like a
running back. At over 6 foot, with a massive upper
body and with legs like pistons he does not seem well
suited to the needs of an efficient, XC bike racer.
Skinny carcasses with zero excess are much easier to
haul around in the woods or on the road.

I was riding my cross bike with knobby tires and
fenders to his 16 pound carbon BMC and ultra light
wheels. He also did not put a 5 plus hour ride in the
day before...not that I am making excuses...

So off we went. Quick pace to the bridge then turned
into a fast race pace. Two abreast for the flats with
me occasionally jumping onto his rear wheel for rises
in the road. My legs were tired and were filled with
lactic acid and we had barely got going. This is the
closest I have been to true race pace in years.

It was cold out as there was ice on the road and some
of the bodies of water we passed were frozen...but
frankly I did not notice as I was working hard and
kicking off heat like a furnace.

At one point during the ride I remembered thinking to
myself the same thoughts I had during college at
certain criteriums that were so hairy due to pace and
because how technical the course was: please let
me flat so I can call it a day. And while I partially
prayed for a mechanical failure, the other half of me
coaxed my inner masochist to endure a little more.

Pain is weakness leaving the body. Or at least that is
what I told myself.

I sprinted the downhills if Dallas gaped me as he
coasted: the combination rolling resistance(Michelin
tires are like shot gun blasts compared to the pea
shooters of my under inflated Vittoria cross tires)
and aero wheels were disadvantage that made me think
playing basketball with with 4 year olds. It was
disheartening but I pushed on. The difference was self
evident after the hill at state line when we compared
top end speeds 35 to his 42mph. I was sprinting and he
was coasting calmly in aero tuck.

We hit Piermont and turned around after 2 minutes of
jawing about how cold it was and eating a Clif cube
thing-ee. This was my mistake. Although I was tired,
legs were on fire with lactic acid, at least up until
that point I had some gas in the tank. By only eating
one cube and not the whole pack (which is my normal
consumption as I am trying to have a caloric deficit
during this training period) I put myself behind the 8
ball without realizing it.

We headed out of town, did IBM and then jumped back on
9W.

I told Dallas I was going to ride the climb out of
Piermont to State line at my own pace so off he
went...he was nice enough to wait. From then on we
took turns at the front hitting the wind.

With my face in the wind I turned myself inside out to
keep the pace high: 23-25 mph on my computer when it
was flat. After my pulls I would sit in the luxury of
the Dallas super truck slipstream which let me coast
and recover. I can not remember ever having a
experience with one rider that offered so much
protection from the wind. On the downhills I kept
poking my nose into the wind to slow down other wise I
would have touched wheels.

We picked up a limpet on the way home and while he did
not take a pull once he held on and tried to stay out
of our way. He apologized twice for screwing up the
rhythm as he tried to stick on on Dallas wheel, not
knowing that the hierarchy dictated he had second
choice as to whose wheel he could sit on. I was not
sitting on his wheel and if he wanted the free ride he
better not take my place 2ND wheel as I was going to
bump him off. Anger fueled the pedals.

The high point of the ride for me was a monster long
pull that had me almost throw up. The limpet and
Dallas thanked me for killing myself while I tried to
regain my composure: I was not seeing straight after
that. While I had nothing for the climbs I was happy
to know I could crush it on the flats.

We hit the bridge: the pace had been high and we
agreed that it was cool down time. I was hurting and I
was grateful to hear that Dallas said he felt sick from the pace...I
felt sick too, but did not admit it, so it was
reassuring to hear that we had each pushed each other
to the limit.

The city was never so welcome as I could barely push
the pedals. I drank the last of my water. I never
finish my bottle in winter even on the longer rides I
do, but today was different. I coasted when I could
and consumed a banana I had like I was a famished 3rd
world vagabond.

I had bonked.

It took me almost 30 minutes to get from 90th street to the 50's.

I wanted to pass out. But I pedaled home and forced
myself to eat before doing so: two bowls of cereal
while I waited for my whole wheat pasta to come to a
boil.

Then with little ceremony and no consideration for the
bright sun to come out I passed out.

It had been the first time in years I had ridden 2.5
hours at full tilt race pace (au bloc) and although I
bonked I considered it a success.

Amazingly enough my legs feel OK today after a long
slow long Saturday and a Sunday race pace. Muscles
have memory. God Bless 'em.

Now if I had only eaten more onthe ride...lessons
learned are often best served hard.

Things are starting to look good.

"This is U.S. History, I see the globe right there."
—Jeff Spicoli, Mr. "All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine."

Weekend recap Part Uno: Saturday.

Left early in the Saturday sun, with the promise by the weatherman for a mid 40's high. Left the house at 7 with shorts knee warmers, jacket, base layer and a jersey. Pockets were stuffed with food, hats (ussually switch out hat mid way through ride because it is drenched) and an extra set of gloves.



I wanted to log 70 miles in if I could: slow steady with some climbing.



Ride consisted of my normal route up to Nyack with extra climbing thrown in: Climbed the back side into Nyack twice. Purposely slow, but I did it.



Focused on small fluid circles and being relaxed as possible. No great effort other than what was needed to keep moving. The goal was to keep moving for 5 hours.



I rewarded myself at the halfway point with another cup of coffee (3rd for the day...which would later catch up with me) and a muffin. As I headed out of Nyack (back over the backside for more climbing fun) the sun slipped behind the clouds and the grey day turned black. It got cold. Although I was moving and spinning my legs, I got cold and started to shiver. Concerned with the proposition of hypothermia, I clicked down to an easier gear to increase leg speed. For the next 20 minutes I spun like a Lance fanatic up the hills, on the flats and down the hills.



Slowly I warmed up.



Next challenge was one every cyclist dreads: dire bowl evacuation. Three coffees had not agreed with me and there was a sudden need to find a rest room. At that juncture there was no promising place to go and with every second it became more crucial. Ugh.



As I headed back down 9w I knew I would have to find a peaceful spot onthe side of the road. I remmbered the over pass and with a glance over my shoulder to check for no traffic and with a few cars in the distance in front of me I sprinted across the road to the under pass . Undressing as quickly as I could, which was not easy with bib shorts I was barely able to keep it together. Relief. God bless the fall as the dead leaves on the ground made for a great TP substitue.



The incidendt reminded me of riding in Maine and having to use my socks when a simalar situation occured and one of the girls on the ride noticed that when I disapered/reappeared i was missing them...



Lighter for the ride home, off I continued. Drained.



Around 70 miles for the day with barely a word uttered than the profanity for choosing to wear bib shorts.

Velonews has a new site....

I think it sucks persoanlly...Other than it is easy to look for stuff on it...I get confused because they have links to articles that are so frigging old thatare supposed to be relevant: do I care that FDJ andMercury/Fuji almost merged back in '01? NO

Anyway, not a fan anymore. I think I am going to belooking at cyclingnews/pez/road for my updates a lot more or start my own cycling only website for news and other junk that is cooler than anything they have...It willbe like GI joe kung fu grip star wars figures with built in action killing sounds.

Velonews: Just bring back the old site and we can befriends again....