Pictures of some of my bikes...current and former

Pictures of some of my bikes...current and former: Bikes seem to come and go for cyclists. Some bikes one has an emotional attachment to. Others, not so much. As I get older the less I want a full quiver of bikes. My tastes have become simpler and yet more sophisticated.

Here is some of my bikes from the last couple of years. Not all of them, but those I could readily find pictures of. I will post a part two once I track down some more pictures of my girls.
Intense 6.6: I liked the bike but never loved it. I liked the travel, I liked the fork. I think 6.6 inches might be a little too much travel.

Independent Fabrications Single Speed: Love the single speed. Still on the fence about the way it is built. I may end up selling her at the end of the year to re-build it up with a shorter head tube.

Orange Sub 5: I loved this bike. It had great travel, it felt solid and it was fast. Got rid of it only because I ripped the derailleur off...I never built it back up and I ended up selling it to a guy in Mill Valley, Ca. It was like a befiers Santa Cruz Superlight. I like the Superlight as a XC bike.

The Ti Crown Jewel: I love this bike. Not the stiffest, and not the lightest but she is right there in the middle. I guess you would call it the sweet spot.
Merlin XLC: Great bike. Just never fit right.
Kona King Kahuna: Regret. I wish I had never sold her.
Ti Cross: Another keeper.
Eddy Merckx MX leader: One of the all time great bikes for the classics. Gorgeous. Fast and comfortable on the flats. A pig on the climbs.

Kona Single Speed Team Issue Cross Bike: I bought the frame off one of the factory racers and so it was all Scandium for the front triangle. LIGHT. It had an Alpha Q fork and an FSA carbon ring guard. Record Levers and Easton bars made for a fast bike. I loved taking it up and over the bridge. I think I am going to do another single speed cross bike this winter.

Apres work ride

AM texted me to see if I wanted to a LT (lactate threshold) work out up 9W. I knew this was going to be a true training ride, not just a ride. Work outs have replaced just going for spin these days as I try to get back into shape. Rides with meaning maybe? I don't know, I just have been disappointed so far so I have started back to square one.

I had been riding easy the last 2 weeks because of my hand and had not planned to do anything except rest after doing a bunch of sprints up Harlem Hill in CP on Tuesday as I did not want to overload the body too much. It seems like I do 1 hard ride and I am trashed (seriously) for a few days so I have been more cognitive of recovery and efforts as of recent (this is some boring stuff to read). Been taking a bunch of different supplements and vitamins to try and compress recovery and it seems to help.

Anyway, met AM at 5.30 and headed over the bridge. LT was the program so as soon as we hit 9W it started: 8 minutes on followed by 4 minutes recovery. Do that 4-5 times and then call it a night. The first one I was a little tired or not warmed up, so I just sat on getting pulled at 22-23. Other than saying hello to a 1 legged rider who was going at good clip, no words were spoken as it was all business during the 8 minutes.

Once I warmed up I felt better and did the 2nd LT. I left AM behind and I kept steady and pushed a big gear at 80-90 cadence (works nicely for me on the flats) and was averaging between 23-24.5 depending on wind and whether or not I was in the drops. It was really evident how crucial being areo is at certain speeds on this ride: once you are over 22 mph the difference is quite palatable between riding in the drops or riding on the tops.

It was good ride and I was glad to see some form peaking out from what has been a crap spring: Not enough racing and a bunch of health issues. To get a little speed work out in was nice especially in the warm sun light...to get away from the park was also nice. I am going to start leaving work early once week to get a good ride in over the bridge.

In other news, commuter bike is set to go. It really is a beater bike. Will post some pictures this weekend and next week I start commuting a couple of days a week on it.

Ashamed to admit...

...that I am rocking out to Gwen Steffani and No Doubt. The  cover of Talk Talk's "its my life" is way rad though.

No limits to what those young ones will think of next...Road bike trials just seems so ludicrous and yet I have to give the guy credit. Between the track bike free style and this guy I will never complain about not running big enough tires when I am mountain biking.

Saturday Blue Mountain.

one day one way...the next day another way

Atherton, for one, was outspoken in her dislike of skinsuits. "It was no battle here against a skinsuit on this course," she said. "With the top so open and windy, you can make four or five seconds easy. There's lots of issues with using them, I think; if Tracy wants to use one, that's her game, but I don't agree with them at all." -as reported by Velonews.com on June 8th.



The worlds took place in Italy over the weekend for mountain biking and I will not bother you with the results. But I noticed that Raechel Atherton, sister of newly crowned Gee Atherton, was wearing a skinsuit for her winning ride. DH'ers need to recognize that that if they are serious practitioners of their sport that they need to adopt the correct equipment choices and be professional about it. For some courses it makes absolute sense to race in a skinsuit and for a top level pro, who is paid to race and win, to not adopt it when it makes sense is tantamount to malpractice.

Anyway, I thought it was funny that not too long ago she was pissing and moaning about them and then she she uses one to win the worlds...as far as I could tell all the contenders used a skin suit. Evidently the desire to win took precedent over making a fashion statement. Which is the way it should be. In general, technical wear is far superior for comfort and performance than the alternative. I am not wearing my lycra to ride down to get a cup of java, but for any ride of any sort of meaning I certainly will.

Hmmm

Phobia 1x8, originally uploaded by lelebebbel.

This might be the next off road drive train...Gamut 20. The ultimate woods bike.

My New Style American-Japanese Track Shop: Charia and Co NYC

My New Style American-Japanese Track Shop

The American bicycle renaissance is in full effect and is ever so self evident when the very fringe have their own purveyors of their beloved goods. Specialty shops that cater to the subtle nuances of  a discipline that has a specific requisite of the practitioners. Almost every branch of the sport now has a place to shop at now. 

Simple in set up, as it is merely chain, wheels, fixed cog, bar, stem, post and seat attached to a stiff chassis that's true intention was to be ridden around an oval. Left turn only. Why it has become the accessory of the sub culture is curious. It is so impossibly imperfect that it is perfect for travel in NY.

I now know of three different track only shops in NYC. Crazy. Here is the latest: Charia and Co.

It is the practicality of the fixed bike that I often ponder. On any given day I may have a differing opinion on the 1 speed fixed bike. Legs in ever motion for as the wheel turns the crank will rotate. There is no pause for traffic, bumps or sudden obstacles. Fluid is needed in heaps.

Those who move effortlessly through the streets have fore sight of the ebb and flow of traffic as if they had practiced the series of moves for their whole life, rather than the on the spot ballet with a tall order of pain for failure: pavement and steel can serve as the cushion for a fall. Questions often arise to the number of synapses that me be firing, or just aspiring for life, it takes in the mind of the devote of the fixed gear. Less might be more for the true artists.   Nerves of steel and yet relaxed, this contrast of the key ingredient of the few is the primary underlying attribute. 

While I might be critical of the track bike and the riders, it all stems from a question of safety. Often the pilot of the fixed steeds is sans helmet (but will often be riding with a trucker hat as protection). The head is not necessarily meant for trauma, other than the damage of one's parents can cause,  so to see so many ride without one deeply disturbs me. To tempt fate so carelessly, as this is not a measured risk, with such deep consequences only makes one question the level of foolishness.  There is foolish and just stupid and the line is not as fine as one might think or brag about.  Just wear a helmet for gods sake.

None the less, the space was beautiful with a wall of NJS frames and the pre-requisite parts that no NYC aficionado of the track persuasion would not just drool over.  Tasteful is rarely used in the description of a shop but this joint was oozing it with its aesthetic and clean interior. 

Gracias boys for opening more than a shop. More art than museum (one is live and the other is the mausoleum of the dead...both serve good purposes but the art studio is the attempt to challenge us currently when the museum is more of the mark of the established.) The place carries vintage bikes that remind me of my favorite period in bike culture the late 80's to the very  early 90's.

If you are within striking distance of Stanton on the LES then make your way there as just the assortment of merchandise is well worth the trip. 

Chariandconyc.com

Broke Paw Mountain (biking)

Broke Paw Mountain (biking):
What is the world coming to these days when you can not even trust the family physcian. The DOC says not broke after examing the x-ray but has no valid explanation as to why I am in pain for the last 6-7 weekd (totallt stupid on my part to wait so long). The specialist says itis broke without looking at the x-rays and tells me to get the MRI none the less (ringing up a super nice bill for the insurance company).

Where does that leave me? No riding was the prescription from the specialist till he gets the MRI back.

All of this makes me cranky.

Harlem Rocks Crit, broken Pinarello and stupid

Harlem Rocks Crit, broken Pinarello and stupid

I thought this was pretty funny: 15k+ of bikes locked up in Harlem.
I wonder how long they would last if there was no race going on.

Harlem Rocks:
I had planned on racing this weekend at the Darkhorse but my hand is still wrecked. Not really wrecked, just hurts a ton. The x-rays show no breakage but I am still in pain. I am in enough pain that it keeps me from holding the bar tight. I start PT tomorrow. Sucks.
Instead I did a road ride both Saturday and Sunday and the went to go watch the Harlem Criterium. Saw some old friends. It was not a bad way to spend the day...I would rather have been mountain biking. It was a super low key weekend that was highlighted with a Rome marathon: I missed the 2nd season last year so I downloaded the whole thing from itunes. I got very little sleep.

Speeds were high as the pros were turning 1 minute laps...Rock Racing was in attendance and it was interesting to see the bad boys of lycra in action. I saw Michael Ball (owner of Rock and Republic and the man behind Rock Racing) and for all the bad press this guy gets I saw him posing in pictures with fans. He also sponsored the race brought a full compliment of racers and a bunch of race vehicles. Mike is now alright in my book.

Tyler Hamilton was there. He looked out of sorts to be racing a crit instead of the Dauphine. A huge fall from grace. He did a lot of work to chase down the breaks and running some of the deepest section rims I have ever seen. Also noted is that he was riding a different bike then team sponsor DeRosa: I think it was a Scott CR1 or a Parlee.

It was interesting to note that a great number of the pros on the rock team had tri bottle cages on the back of their bikes for extra bottles because the weather was so hot. Pretty smart of them I thought.
Broken Pinarello: João Miguel da Silva Correia is alocal pro for Bissell. Super nice all around guy who I have seen training all winter and spring. I caught up with him after going up to Highbrige on Thursday night. I was riding single and he was rolling on a sweet Pinarello prince. We talked for 30 minutes about nothing and everything. A great guy and one of the more approachable pros....he seemed just as excited as I would be to be racing pro. At the Harlem crit he went down pretty hard and broke his carbon Pinarello in two...literally in two. 10k of junked in the final sprint. His buddy carried his useless bike down the street folded. Sorry João but i am glad you escaped with nothing more than what looked like a few bruises and minor cuts.

http://www.joaoisme.com/

I like the name of this local bike shop: Harlem Bike Doctors.

Stupid:
The BS about Tom Boonen being busted for coke is stupid. Why do we care? Obviously the guy has the world at his feet and he made a bad judgement (along with dating a 16 year old a). Give the guy a break and let the Belgian authorities deal with the punishment. Athletes are in the spotlight and are influential to young and old, but the Tom B is still a young man who has lived a semi sheltered life as a pro.

People make mistakes. But it is how they come back from that mistake is what really matters in the end.

Here today, gone today

I recently bought this Merckx cross frame off of ebay with plans to build into a bad ass commuter/park bike. But after getting this gorgeous piece of red and blue I realized how much energy/money I was going to put into when I had set out to have budget on this thing (budget? what is that?)...but between the excitement of a Merckx cross and visions of commuting to work the budget went out the window. 

SO, after I came to my senses I ended up posting it one ebay again and within 24 hours I had resold it for more money than I had paid for it.

So I am back to square one looking for that elusive cool commuter bike within my budget. Cheap and cheerful. Itis funny how bikes can come in and out of your life...I started counting the number of bikes I have owned over the years...Crazy.


I slept in late. Needed sleep in a bad way. Getting ready to go for a road ride in the sun...yummy.

Visits, Links, Roche, quote of the day and a broken hand (???)

It is Wednesday and NYC remains hot and muggy. I woke early knowing that I would be off to the hospital to get my palm checked in order to get some miles in. I have been in denial about an injury (typical. And not typical because I am some sort of tough guy, but typical of me from the perspective that I hoped that it would go away instead of getting it checked out...typical does not do justice: stupid would be more appropriate.) that has been causing a bit of pain on the bike and in other situations. It happened in the beginning of May( read story here for all you intrepid readers who might have missed it: http://megabottleride.blogspot.com/2008/05/saturday-endo-fest.html), and refused to get it checked out and basically continued to roll on the dirt and the road with some minor/major pain


I had hoped it was a deep palm bruising (what we all hope for reallyy...) and that it would rectify itself...but alas, time has passed and I am no better. I went to the doctor yesterday and he thought it was broken, but needed to get the x-rays to confirm...thus the trip to the x-ray style photo booth.


Cousin Dan's better half:
http://ephemerology.blogspot.com/



Stolen from BKW:



"I am telling Mieke about black": my mother, raised from "good stock" in the fertile crescent of WASP's (Northshore Boston), in all of her wisdom was spewing forth sociological and historical platitude's on race the other day. Having vast experience with multi-culturalism and diversity we all listened intently and learned more than what we got at the 5-7 years we spent at the University.

1 year

I am home this Sunday. My eye is swollen shut and I have not left the house all day because it is too bright out...no I am not hung over. Just over tired and when that happens my left eye gets really red and swells up and shuts. Painful at worst, annoying at best. Spent the day in bed with the shades drawn and a pair of dark glasses on.

Since there was no riding today I thought I would put this up.

Oh, and it has been one year since I started blogging on this site. I wrote another post earlier about how and what a strange year it was but decided that it was a waste of words.
Happy 1 year!

Saturday AM blues

Woke up early this AM only to find that I was not in tip-top shape. Abuse on the body is taking a toll. I think I pulled a calf muscle or strained it. I am going to go for a spin and see how it feels...wrist is still messed up and I am assuring my status as a moron by not going to the doctor: I hate going. 

Down loading some tunes for the ride: Metallica (Black Album), new weird David Bowie (not old Ziggy Stradust, which was weird and still is, but the new techno Bowie) and NIN (the fragile).  I hope this will be the soundtrack to my 45 mile bike ride (that is what I have on plan but not sure how I will execute)...I really wanted to go to blue but realized between my wrist and calf I am in no shape to go two days in a row.  I think I am going to have to get a geared MTB bike for those days when I want to roll with a little less resistance. 

Just snatched this off the Yeti site.  Yeti is starting to come back as a bike company.The last few years the stuff has not looked as great as the early years...but I think they have gotten the mix right finally.

Girls of Bond

, originally uploaded by dr_odio.

"AM to the PM"

Call to arms came early this morning as the buzzer went off at 5.30. Groggy, I put it together and made it out the door to put some miles in the bank. Tempo style.  I am making the switch to AM rides (some days) because the park is now a true battleground as the neophytes are out in abundance riding carelessly and with little concern for the lives of other...in other words it is fucked after 5. You have to be on a full tilt pilgrimage to insanity  to want to insert yourself in that melee. I may still ride Wednesday night in the park...7 laps in less than 2 hours feels good.

The park was full of tri-kids rolling and running. A few roadies. Although far better than at night, the park was still considerably filled. So much for peaceful meditative am rides like in the old days when I could count the number of people who rode AM in the park on my two hands.

Ride was good. It felt good to be done I should say. I am flat these days...not sure what that is about. Got nothing in my legs.

Off to work.