Pre or post ride- Perfect.

Actually, perfect would be toasted whole wheat bread.
(Note the "knife" in the jam)

Picture courtesy of Embrocation.

New XTR.

Following in SRAM's foot steps- 2 rings. (To be fair though, Ritchey was the first of the large companies doing the 2x10 drive train back in the mid 90's)

Insight.

"Since the BB30 shell is completely sealed inside the frame, Purdy recommends taking out the inboard bearing seals to lower friction a touch."
-Insight from NYvelocity.
Picture courtesy of NYVelocity.

Modern Retro.

Picture courtesy of Velonews.

Voreis.

A quickie.

Kirt Voreis at X0 Ride Camp from Taylor Sage on Vimeo.

Reparto.

Bianchi is celebrating 125 years of building bikes- a record in itself worth noting.

Picture courtesy of Competitive Cyclist.

Robert Millar.

This picture made me think back to the images I would stare at for hours on end from my collection of various bike magazines to Velo's annual year in review (the French magazine Velo would put out an annual on the years races)- it is how I stayed in touch with the big show in Europe as a teenager.
From so long ago, Robert Millar decked out in Oakley Frogskins, hunched over in pain climbing, and replete in "Zed" gear is etched in my mind. Can you picture it?

I poached this picture off of the Embrocation site- some of my favorite writing (not bike BS) comes from this site: Life and bikes well meshed together in spirit that is more about getting to the finish line vs. who crossed the finish line first. Inspiration comes from all places these days, but this is one spot on the inter-web thatt has replaced the great BKW (RIP BKW) in my faves, for it is more about the spirit and life style of competition than the competition itself. But for whatever it is worth, I also happen to like training more than I like racing.

Picture couretsy of Embrocation Journal.

Reparto. Early Reparto.

Picture courtesy of Michael Barry.

Fans.

I love fans of the sport.

Why I love the Giro.

In recent years it has become a spectacle that has shown up the Tour by miles- a real race vs. the formula of the Tour. And as a French man I can say Vive le Giro!

Pictures courtesy of Cycling Tips Blog. Aussies know how to race these days and seem to really know how to throw up a good blog. Thanks guys for the great pictures.

Cross.

Many moons till the season starts, but for some the season will be starting soon. Just a little something to wet your appetite.

Internationale Cyclocross Tervuren from j. dunn on Vimeo.

Skills CX Style.

Local trails ala cx from Andy Wardman on Vimeo.

So true.

Wash.

Cleaning almost looks palatable when the work bench looks so professional.

Picture courtesy of Rouleur.

(No title).

Pictures courtesy of VeloPaint.

Brooklyn.

rhc - blake sinclair (1), originally uploaded by Dave August.

Red Hook Crit: Pictures from the fixed gear race in Brooklyn- a melding of hipsters, art and skinny tire bike racers.

Late model.

Picture courtesy of Barrys pop.

Only from the hot bed of TT racing in the UK.

Makes me feel a little better about my gut as of recent.  But then again he is out there and I am not....

Time.

Home Made Compressor.

From the boys of NY  Velocity- they are turning into the Martha Stewart of cycling.

The home made compressor- very nifty.

Picture courtesy of NyVelocity.

The shop.

Picture courtesy of Open Bicycle.

Well put.

Oblong.

Picture courtesy of VeloNews.

The Tail of Independent Fabrications.

Picture courtesy of ifbikes.com

Vintage.

Giro love.

Carbon going somewhere new.

A first for me- Carbon DH rims. I have to imagine the difference is materially significant.

Folding.

Picture courtesy of Pezcycling.

The process.

Courtesy of IFbikes.

The characters.

It takes all sorts to make a bike race.

Picture courtesy of VeloNews.

Wet cornering.

Still in love with the Giro.

1990 Greg.

I love this painting of Greg's 1990 TDF machine. It lives on as one my favorite bikes of all time.

Picture courtesy of Taliah Lampert.

Carbon.

It still mystifies me that this sheet of fabric is the basis of frames, forks and wheels on the modern day bicylce.

The black eye of the sport.

While I may admire his work with cancer, as he has inspired so many to reach further, I have anxiously awaited the day when it would all come out. Most may not care, but the purist in me does and I hope the record of achievements on his bike are put in the perspective they merit.

NYVelocity has done another great job of piecing the puzzle together- well worth the read.

It's back!

The 10th annual Bicycle Film Festival is back again.

Skinny tubed lust.

When machine meets art, as in the case of both Pegoretti and Vanilla, the toughest part may very well be the choice of whether or not to stare or ride.

Picture courtesy of speedbloggen.

Malcom Elliot- Hard as the coffin nail.

In pro bike racing he is a fossil compared to the average age of the pro racer. He raced in LeMonds time successfully and continues to do well at the pro level in the UK. I have much admiration for his longevity in a sport that tends to burn and kill men. He inspires me for the trail he has been on as a racer. But more importantly, what he shows us all, is that one can adapt to put on big performances at any age.

Ne pas de race.

The mountain bike race season has opened and I am not racing. And although I was looking forward to the season, this is a passion, it was not choice that needed much thought. It was decision as to how to spend my time for a finite period- temporary.  For the time being I will be tending to greater things. Ne pas de race for me.

Bold.

Bold is beautiful.

Picture courtesy of Above Category

Dennis Hopper.

“I thought the crazier you behaved, the better artist you would be. And there was a time when I had a lot of energy to display how crazy that was.”

More of an icon of style for me than actor- akin to James Dean and Marilyn Monroe, he was American cool. Thank you for the influence.

Note: picture and quote from the NYTimes.