THE Dispatch

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Cycle Jerks Vids

Colorado is a sweet state. Denver is a cool town. Being a bike messenger in Denver might not have the status of New York but could still be right on. Check out these guys below from Cycle Jerks that like to pull tricks on their fixies when they aren't delivering packages.



Nice moves but come on...WEAR YOUR HELMET!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

CYCLEHAWK Messenger NYC

Maybe the most known messenger company in the world. These guys have been in films (PEDAL, Red Light Go), Magazines (Bicycling), Talk Shows (Ellen), and are now sponsored by big companies like Adidas, Crank Brothers, Swobo, and Bern helmets. This is how they do:



If you're in the 212 and need a package delivered from Central Park West to the Lower East side give em a ring. Chances are a guy named Squid will show up ASAP ready to launch your package daringly through the streets of NYC. Oh yea and he doesn't use brakes!

Ride safe lads, and don't forget your skid lid...

Monday, November 26, 2007

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Bike Stand FAQ

As a pro mechanic I get asked a lot "What bike stand should I buy for my bike?" So as I am answering this question via email I thought I would post my reply. No pics, just the facts.

I have done some research and have found an "issue." As you probably know most bike stands clamp to the seatpost for numerous reasons and most bikes in our world come with a round seatpost. However ironically the Soloist Carbon seatpost and S-Works Tarmac do not fall under that "most" category. What does this mean? Your seatpost may not be able to fit in the traditional bike stand clamp and you never want to clamp a carbon frame in a clamp either. This is all just from the pictures I have seen and maybe it is not as ovalized as I am thinking.

Either you still will be able to use the traditional clamp like the Park Tool PCS-4 and the Ultimate Support Pro-Classic or you might have to use a road bike specific stand like the Park Tool PRS-20 and Tacx Spider Team.

Here's the breakdown on stands. You get what you pay for so obviously if you buy the most expensive stand then you get the best stand. If you go with the traditional clamp stand and stability is most important then go with a Park Tool stand, but if mobility (lightweight) are more important aspects then i would go with the Ultimate Support. On the flip side however when going with a road bike specific stand the Tacx Spider Team is more stable than the PT PRS-20 but the Park Tool stand is more mobile and easier to move around. In closing this thought though all listed stands are of excellent quality, I am just being precise.

What do I own/use? For mountain bikes: Ultimate Support Pro-Elite; for road bikes: Park Tool PRS-21.


Cheers!

Join TREK, Let's Change the World

"Obesity rates are through the roof, congestion is clogging most major cities, and the reality of global warming has set in. A simple solution for all of these problems is the bicycle. In 1997, the government spent $20 million on bicycle trails. Now, that number is $800 million a year."
Whether or not our ice caps are going to be non-existent in five years will be a debate until the end of our time. But two things are incredibly true: our air is not as clean and the people breathing that air are not as lean.

To combat these issues, the TREK Bicycle Corporation has altered their company's focus from having one of the most technologically advanced bicycle frames in the pro peleton to now a company not so much focused on yellow jerseys. They have created a program that allows the customer and his or her local bike shop to work together in helping to solve our country's and even earth's problems that some people just can't understand. This program is called 1 World, 2 Wheels.

So here is how to get started making an impact along side others with the same goals: go to the local TREK dealer and make sure they are involved in the 1 World, 2 Wheels program. Then work with them, local advocates and governments, the National government, and IMBA in finding ways to get the word out how much fun riding a bike can be and how much it can help us all.

It is time to stop fearing global warming and supporting GLOBAL COOLING.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

1 World, 2 Wheels


Never Doubt That A Small Group Of Thoughtful, Committed Citizens Can Change The World, Indeed, It Is The Only Thing That Ever Has...
-Margaret Mead



More to come...

State Bike Laws Center

Have you ever been told by someone that you are not allowed "by law" to be on the road as a cyclist? Maybe someone has pushed you off the median or hurled a bottle in your direction and you wished there was something you could do about it. Well you DO have a right to ride on the road and YOU CAN do something about the pesky motorists that thinks you "can't" be there.

The League of American Bicyclists has created a web page where you can easily search the local laws of your state or one you could be visiting on your next trip. The State Bike Laws Center has all the info needed to equip any cyclist with the knowledge needed to challenge any ideas that bicycles aren't allowed.

But since we all know most people can't drive...Wear Your Helmet.

Urban Velo #4 is Out!

How about a FREE magazine? Scratch that, how about a FREE magazine about Bicycling? Nevermind, ok now think of a FREE magazine about Bicycling focused on urban riding, photography, and articles you really want to read. Yea that should do it. Urban Velo is the name of the publication and you can get it here through a downloaded PDF.

Also while in CO I wanted to micro-blog the events but couldn't at the time. Well now on the top of this page is a Twitter badge where all the updates to immediate news will be posted. My Twitter Home page can also be viewed here.

Friday, November 16, 2007

STU's Over I'm Headed East

Yes that is correct my short stay in Colorado Springs is now officially over. As a matter of a fact I am no longer in CO. The last couple of days at STU were sweet. We basically re-built every fork and shock within reason that RockShox sells. It is amazing how everything works and the thought process the is involved with the designs of these machines. One of the coolest happenings of the whole week occurred when 4 product managers came down to speak with us. These are "the guys" behind SRAM. They make the decisions regarding different product. Being able to speak with them and voice our concerns/thoughts was a right-on experience. As I get to home base I will get edited pictures and thoughts of the week posted so I can share as much as possible.

Thanks to Hercules, David, and all the guys at SRAM for their patience and hospitality throughout the week...

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

STU Day 2 over & It's Snowing

It's morning of STU Day 3 and to all of our delight there is a bit of snow coming down. Even though Pikes Peak is hiding behind the clouds on this overcast day the snow makes up for everything.

Yesterday Herc and Dave flooded us with theory behind the whole suspension world. I mean why even have suspension? What would you say? Then we jumped right into coil v air, SAG, damping, oil, and the list goes on and on. The best part was doing surgery on two different forks; the most interesting being the World Cup SID.

Now Day 3 throws us right in the middle of fork re-build once again. Let's see what more there is to learn...

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

IMPORTANT: Buy Your SIDIs and Colnagos Now!

This just in: SIDI shoes and Colnago Frames will increase in price by at least 10% starting December 1, 2007. In the past three months the Dollar has decreased in value 9% when compared to the Euro. This all means that importers are having to pay even more to bring the European goods into the States. Of course this increased price is passed onto the local bike shop who then must charge the customer more. So hurry before its too late!

By the way I just got my hands on the new 2008 RockShox SID. It's wicked sweet!

High Winds in the AM

Usually when the time has come to arise and begin a day the alarm on my BlackBerry screams at me until I am out of bed. However, this morning was different as the sound of 40-50 mph wind gusting by my room window pulled me out of bed about two hours too early. Still surprised that cars have not been lifted off the ground but we are all holding fast.

A few cyclists were asked the big question: Speed or Comfort and Why?
Here is my favorite response: "When I want comfort, I'll take the bus. When I'm on the bike, I'm seeking that thrill that comes from 19 pounds of aluminum...keeping my 170 pounds only inches away from the asphalt surface as I hurtle down the hill at speeds that induce traffic citations.". --Bicycling Mag June 2005

Alright the bell is about to ring; back to class...

Monday, November 12, 2007

STU Day 1

After a morning run 6,000 feet above what I am use to (man this air is thin), I made the short walk from my hotel to the SRAM development building. Upon entering the "classroom" I was instantly amazed at what I saw. I had just entered one of the most technologically advanced classrooms I had ever seen. Pictures are to come but we are talking about amps for the instructors with mics, multiple projectors being fed video from a micro lens camera, shop "lab" tables that would put most LBSs to shame, an entertainment system, pots of coffee ready to drink, and bike parts that were waiting to be broken down. You are right, this is the bike industry that we are talking about and not a presentation by Steve Jobs (Apple CEO). Impressive!

Moving along...after all formal introductions we immediately dove into the theory side of why SRAM develops product the way they do. But this is what I really like: our instructor, Hercules, first asked us what is it about SRAM that we didn't like or had questions about. I think that question is very important because not only do they want feedback from riders and shop owners but also the actual grease monkeys that make their stuff work. Bravo!

Even though I ride SRAM X.O and Force I can already tell I am going to be totally brainwashed by the time Friday rolls around. Everything just makes soo much sense. Let me digress for a moment. Here is the deal: assuming I get the go ahead from SRAM I am going to share all info that I can just not here all at once and not now. Each day I'll post the basics of the day and maybe really cool stuff I learned during that time period. Then later on I hope to get on some podcasts as well as publish some documents with detailed info. But back to the events at hand.

Today; wow there is no way I can "sum it up" because so much was discussed in theory followed by lab time of totally disassembling a Rival shifter followed with rebuilds, bleeds, and hose sizing of Juicy brakes. But here are 3 tips: check your bike's chain line, always put your dual suspension bike at its max travel point when installing a new chain, and keep your cables and housing clean. Contamination is the worse possible problem for a shifting drivetrain.

I'll leave you with this: some people really like Campagnolo because of the "ease" of servicing the shifter. I officially challenge that statement or rumor and will proclaim that any mechanic with 1± year of experience could break-down/re-build a SRAM road shifter blind-folded. It is that easy. Good evening...

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Flight Status & Gorgeous Weather

"Houston we have landed." (Literally) Awaiting my ride to the hotel while enjoying the gorgeous weather of today. Sun is shining, wind is blowing, and man is it great.

"I thought the rockies would be a little more rockier than this". --From "Dumb and Dumber"

Awaiting Flight in HOU...

The airplane...what an amazing machine. The fact that I can fly across country in 3 hours still impresses me. So once again this is one of the few times I will use TPW as a microblog but this is the best way for right now. Google please open Jaiku back up!

While I wait let me talk about the Specialized Epic that I have just re-built. We are talking without a doubt the most efficient double-squishy 26" bike out there. Add a no longer available Fox F100X with BRAIN like features, SRAM X.O, & Stans No Tubes.com ZTR rims with 240 hubs; there is no mountain I can't climb really really fast. That will be the featured bike next week with pics to come.

With only one more flight left, I will be in CO soon enough!

Did you wear your helmet today?

I'm Back and I'm Off

Haha good morning! Wow it feels great to be blogging again. Soo much in the and my world has happened since the last time I posted but today is a great day to be alive. (And I got to ride my re-built Epic yesterday.). The endorphins mixed with a Grandé Non fat Mocha Latté No-whip is giving me that wicked sweet feeling that everyone wishes they could enjoy all day.

Anyway thanks to everyone for their patience. Right now I am in the airport waiting to board a plane en route to SRAM Technical University in CO Springs. Daily/hourly I will post through my BlackBerry as a Blog and Microblog what I am learning/experiencing. Colorado here I come!

"Will you make the leap?"

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Mephistopheles

"Let's plunge ourselves into the roar of time, the whirl of accident; may pain and pleasure, success and failure, shift as they will. It's only action that can make a man"

---From the film Overcoming

Monday, September 03, 2007

Mint Chocolate GU is Coming

September 15, 2008 Mint Chocolate GU will begin to ship to your local bike shop. That isn't all either. 10% of every purchase will go to the Challenged Athletes Foundation. "This group has been supporting the dreams and aspirations of physically challenged athletes since 1994."

But after you eat this mint chocolaty "energy" what do you do with the empty packet? Eat it? Throw it down on the road? Neither...stash it back in your jersey. For every 50 "empties" you save and then send GU, they will send you 5 FREE GUs back! Download the coupon and check it out.

TTDBYD List

President of Giant Bicycle Corp. has resigned to start checking off items on his Things To Do Before You Die List. I agree, sometimes we have to step back from work or even the current life we live in order to start living. But this TTDBYD list must be made, maybe not even written down, but just created in your mind somewhere. After all our physical lives are too short to sit behind a desk all day dreaming of what we "could have done."

Need some help adding particular items to this list? 1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz

The rest of the world considers football or futbol or any other translation a sport of lightly clothed men running around using only their feet to control a game played with a round ball. However American football means heavily padded men running around on a 100 yard field looking to run over as many people as possible with an egg-like ball. And we get to use our feet a little bit too. Below was one of the most amazing American Football games ever recorded in sports history. Congrats to the guys from Boone, NC. Sometimes words speak louder than picture.



Ride Fixed!

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Reinstalling While Out and About

Yes, I will admit to being Windows user and have been running the same OS for the past 4+ years. So now was a good time to format the drive on my portable allowing me to run a "fresh" version of XP. Re-loading drivers, music, and software along with updates takes a bit but obviously everything is back up and running.

All contributors will be out and about for the next couple of days but soon to come more posts regarding the Madone, the whole of the cycling world, and yes the photography that captures that world.

But wait have you seen IT? We are talking a full 36x23.9mm CMOS Sensor, 9 to 11 frames/second, and 51 focus points all coupled with 12.9 million pixels! See a great review here.

Also maybe this is why foreigners think all Americans are idiots:



Uhhh what did she just say? You know how to pick em don't you Slater?

Saturday, August 25, 2007

All New TREK Madone is Here

Finally the smaller shops are receiving their much anticipated TREK Madone orders. We now have a 5.2 on the floor with something like a 6.5 en route. Expect later this evening a full "out of the box" review with pics to go around. But for now here is the beginning build and end result as a teaser.

Friday, August 24, 2007

TGIF and Friends

Ahh yes Thank Goodness Its Friday. And look at these two friends. See bikes don't ever use the "race card." It doesn't matter that one is black & one yellow or one 700c vs the other 26 inch. If only the rest of the world were the same.

Congrats to Matti Breschel of Team CSC with his stage win at the Tour of Ireland yesterday.

By the by, Team Discovery Channel and Unibet will no longer exist after this season leaving numerous skilled riders seeking new teams. Rumor has it Christophe Moreau and Yaroslov Popovych are headed to Team Quickstep.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Cycle Messenger World Championship 2007

You make it to Dublin this year for the Bicycle Messenger World Championship? Yea neither did I, so vicariously we have to experience the phase through pics and vids posted on the WWW. Look to Canada next year for the event followed by in 2009 moving the CMWC all the way to Tokyo.

Congrats to Peter Bradshaw of Boston and Jaimie Lusk of Denver as the new Male and Female WORLD CHAMPS! Yea that's right both Americans! Thank goodness it wasn't held in France or of course French scientist would have "found" EPO in Peter's and Jaimie's urine. Check out the vid below.


ALSO, check these awesome pics from e://wheeler. Notice what kind of camera was used...only the best for the best!

Democrats for Bikes



Republican Pat McHenry seems to think that riding your bike will not help conserve energy. Hmmm...and he probably drives some kind of gas guzzling Hummer. By the way Mr. McHenry you represent Hickory, North Carolina, isn't that a pretty big cycling community?

Thanks to the Democrats for their support.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Nikon Digital Learning Center

Want to learn how to take better pics directly from the company that sold you your camera? Alas Nikon can show you exactly what you should do with that camera of yours. Click on the picture above to get the Photos you really want. They even created a flickr group for those interested in keeping up with all the updated posts and discussions.

We're Back on Haleakala

Back online...Blogger was down for about an hour this morning but they say the problem has been corrected. Awesome!

Better, Best, Gnarly.
Better: riding your bike.

Best: a family that bikes together.

Gnarly: a family that goes screaming down Mount Haleakala wearing a full face helmet having to experience multiple climate changes while all at the same time experiencing some of the best scenery Maui has to offer. All that done on two wheels...righteous!




Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Team Slipstream Update

For an in depth analysis of Team Slipstream's Powered by Chipotle newest recruiting successes I turned to local Motorwerks Super-Domestique rider Chris L who gave me his in depth analysis of what CEO Director Sportif Jonathan Vaughters is up to.

"J. Vaughters said he wants a Pro Tour license in 2009. They do plan to start more of the classics and definitely Paris Roubaix in 2008. Vaughters is choosing all English speaking riders (one Frenchie- under 23 French champion), which looks smart as far as marketing in the US, Britain, & Australia goes. I am excited to see them grow because a couple of the young guys including Tim Duggan & Will Frisckorn, great climbers. Brad Huff, a sprinter, raced around here a few years ago. What kind of lead out could you get from Z-man, Millar, Backstedt, and Dean? I even like the argyle."

Thanks to Chris for taking time out of his training to respond to me with some in-depth thoughts. However, the argyle is still growing on me. Can't say I really "like" it yet. However I do really like Chipotle.

Monday, August 20, 2007

What I've Done



From pollution, war, destruction, and death to new life, heroes, world leaders, and peace, Linkin Park shows us things we might have forgotten, that which we should never forget, and what we all have to look forward to.

Did you ride your bike to work today?

A TT Wedding

Cheap? Yes. Kooky? Double Yes. Ok we all know that weddings are really expensive, but it is also a special time for the bride and groom to share an important day in their lives. Weddings and cycling should be kept seperate, no matter how poor or rich you are.

**Why is the groom flexing in this picture?

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Velocity's Veloplugs for a Reason

A product better & lighter weight than Velox? Could it really exist? No! As a wheel builder I knew it was going to be tedious having to insert this "plug" into every single nipple hole but it seemed like a good idea...at the time anyway. I constantly check my tires for gradu, fill the tubes on a daily basis, and am very careful when choosing my line. Upon using these new veloplugs for the first time I immediately had not one, but two pinch flats where the tube was getting stuck between the rim and plug. I love Velocity rims, I have two wheelsets built with Deep V's but sorry guys you need to go back to the drawing board for your not-so-good Velox replacement.


An ending thought: All things happen for a reason. There was a reason why one restaurant was closed tonight and I had to go to another one and meet...

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Spending Money on Your Bike

"Despite what the ads say, no bicycle will level the hills for you or turn the wind. No bike will fix your flats or keep Joe six-pack from scaring you on othe scenic route. No custom Parlee will get you into the break. It may get you noticied at the cafe', post-ride. One can only hope that's the sort of glory you crave.
Your wealth may equip you more distinctively, clothe you more stylishly and perhaps coach you better, but it will not turn your cranks even one revolution, unless maybe if you put a tall stack of money on one of the pedals."


--Maynard Hershon (Velonews, 8/13/07)

KONA Clothing for Africa Bike Programs

KONA bikes has always been known especially for its Downhill, XC, and Cyclocross bikes. But now they are adding a new focus to the company: clothing. However, there is more to it than that. A segment of the new clothing line will be made using 100% Organic Cotton in which proceeds of each sale will go to providing bikes to those less fortunate individuals in Africa. Already in 2007, KONA gave 200 bikes to people in Botswanna and plans on continuing their generosity in Senegal and Namibia in 2008. So get out and buy some organic threads from these guys to help support their Africa Bike Program.

CORRECTION: Previously in my "Wear Your Bonnet" post I used the word minutes a couple of times. Make sure to re-read that article and replace all minutes with "seconds. " After all it was only a 1km TT. Thanks

Friday, August 17, 2007

Wear Your Bonnet!

It is no longer considered cool to ride around with just a cycling cap on. For years pros, old-schoolers, and those trying to emulate both considered helmets an "optional" piece of equipment for the ride. But no no, not anymore. We actually label these types of people now: organ donors. Understand you don't even have to be hit by Sally who was texting, putting her eye shadow on, chewing gum, and oh yea driving at the same and never saw you. Just by taking that plunge some 70 cm or so off the ground can cause permanent brain damage or worse. Hey and when they look this good or even this good, why wouldn't you want to wear a helmet?

Also check this; it has been proven on a 1km TT, in calm conditions on a fair grade that adding an aero-helmet to your regime is more productive than adding a set of ZIPP 999s to your bike! That's right; tests show that adding the 999 wheelset will only shave 2 minutes off of your time while a Louis Garneau Rocket Helmet will decrease your time by 4 minutes. Wow! Hmm over $3000 US for a new set of sweet wheels or $150 for a new lid that shaves twice as much time? Priceless.

For TT helmet recommendations go here, here, or lastly here.

Mud and Doping

"That's the beauty of mountain-bike racing...there isn't a pill available out there that helps you ride down a mountain faster. You could transform yourself into an 800-watt monster, but if you can't put the power to the ground, and if you can't ride over technical stuff, you will always suck at racing on a mountain bike."

Quoted from Volume 36/No. 15 of the current VeloNews, Adam Craig of the Giant Factory Team makes a crude point. The article "Clean Through the Mud" explains how because of the lack of huge sponsorships and big money, pro mountain bike racers are not forced into doping to defeat their competitor. Most people would totally agree with what Craig has to say but my response would be: "but Adam there is a pill that helps your ride up the mountain faster."

Touche'!

New Equipment...Better Pics

Nikon SB-600 arrived yesterday. i-TTL Flash Control, Advanced Wireless Lighting, FV Lock, Flash Color Information and Wide Area AF illuminator. Oh yea! Images only to get better.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

"BUMP" in Utah

More tragedy has struck the Crandall
Mine
in Utah as a "Bump" occurred at 18:35 causing issues within the mine immediately halting and suspending the rescue effort. All rescue teams have been evacuated; 9 new miners have been injured with one of those being fatal. Still no sign of the original 6 trapped miners that have been missing in action for 11 days. God be with everyone that has been affected by all of the events as they stand strong under the theme of "We Believe." God bless and God-speed.

Team Slipstream building "Dreamteam"?

In case you weren't aware, USA Cycling Team Slipstream/Chipotle has signed Magnus Backstedt, Julian Dean, David Millar, Dave Zabriskie, and Christian Vande Velde for the 2008 season. All of these riders are coming from UCI Pro Tour teams. This makes me very curious. Hmmm???

VeloNews TV

Go here if you are interested in maybe hearing the Tom Boonen song, watching Jens state that his career goal is "to attack and make people suffer," or even seeing Dave Zab and C. Horner compete at the meow game. Good times.

Right Turn Required

Make four lefts turns and then sprint! I am sure some track champion has heard that from his/her coach before. However Kevin "Squid" Bolger, one of the most known bike messengers in the world, has a new idea for a track in the NYC. See more at cyclehawk.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Jens Takes Yellow in Germany

I thought the racing season was over after the Tour de France? Nope! Not even close. This past weekend none other than CSC phenom Jens Voigt pushed past everyone else at the Deutschland Tour to take the yellow jersey and the win. The final general classification places 1 through 6 all belonged to the boys in the red, white, and black while George Hincapie of Discovery took 7th.


(Pictured third here, Levi is asking around "Umm anybody got a job for me?)

Sunday, August 12, 2007

F8 and Be There

"The power of photography is that we only need fractions of seconds to capture moments of beauty that might otherwise pass us by. Great photographers are masters at taking something really big and distilling it down to something smaller and more understandable for their audience.
Get close. Tell a story. Ask your friends for feedback. And remember the old photographers' adage "F8 and be there." Which means be ready, a great photo can present itself at any time."

---Michael McDermott (OUTSIDE, Feb. 2006)


Case and Point: This taken while driving on I-20W with Nikon D80 (1/50 seconds, f/25, ISO 100)

Runs in the Family

Must be in our water; even Jayme likes to read what Lennard Zinn has to stay, study how Shonny Vanlandingham rides her machine, and yes she too was a bike mechanic at the NOC.

What a great companion...

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Tiger Woods Admits to Blood Doping


Never
...It is however true that America's favorite (and only) pro cycling team is no more. I guess the $45 million Team Discovery was asking seemed too irrational for any sponsor to fork over for the next three years. Why? Well Contador could be in trouble for doping however all information is only rumored, Team Manager Johan is retiring, and American Champion and favorite George Hincapie supposedly has already signed to wear pink next year.

So I beg the question: Could this be the fall of professional cycling? If no one in the World will sponsor a team that has won the Tour de France, the "Superbowl" of our sport, 8 times then how is everyone else to keep their sponsor? Companies are scared that their name will be tainted after being connected with some kind of illegal doping allegation.

The sport of cycling will endure until the end of mankind, however participating and being paid millions to win races in your team colors could soon come to an end.

While watching the tele last night I had an epiphany; golf is about the only sport that is not tainted by doping allegations. Even though boring and sometimes uneventful I applaud the sport. I also applaud you Mr. Woods for shooting a 63 yesterday at the PGA Championship, just 1+ from setting a Tour record.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Discovery Channel Team Calls it Quits?!?

Breaking News: Bruyneel retiring? American Cycling team disbanding? That is the word on the street right now. Info here. Will follow up with more...

It's Hotter than Hot, it's Damn Hot

Let's go out into the field...man what is the weather like today? "It's hot, it's hotter than hot, it's damn hot!" So many great lines from such a great movie. But have you ever heard the real Adrian Cronauer?

Anyway soldier don't come home to the Southeast because it is not any cooler here. Good luck on that two wheeled commute today as your tyres may melt on the asphalt. Don't be stupid...if you gots to ride on your lunch break today get on some rollers.

From The Weather Channel:

...HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

THE HEAT ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

VERY HOT WEATHER WILL CONTINUE TODAY. HEAT INDEX READINGS WILL ONCE AGAIN REACH DANGEROUS LEVELS BETWEEN 105 AND 110 DEGREES... MAINLY BETWEEN 11 AM AND 7 PM CDT.

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS... STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.



Where have You been?

Ahh the question of the hour. Well I have been editing, fixing, riding, running, and am now posting. Sometimes I admit to taking a break from TPR only meaning I am to return with so much to say.

First, want to give a plug to MCG. Getting some insider news over there and sounds like everything is going phenomenally!

The mission of the Medical College of Georgia is to improve health and reduce the burden of illness in society by discovering, disseminating, and applying knowledge of human health and disease.
Hey PKR which one below would you choose to ride? The red one or black one? (Expect newer, better things as promised standards have been raised.)

Source: fyxomatosis

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Evolution of Dance


Ok, I see why that is so funny.

But why is this soo funny?

warning: (not bike related at all but still worth a look)

Friday, August 03, 2007

Pedal Mafia's Bike Builder

Trying to decide what color rims you want for your next fixie build? No worries! Pedal Mafia has a bike builder that allows you to customize your bike so you can see it BEFORE you build it. Look at this gorgeous machine:


Anybody that rides with me will recognize that beauty. Aerospoke in the front helping me slice through the air along with my pinky in the rear just for my own liking. Wicked sweet. The Mafia even went as far as allowing you to add your Knog Frogs if you ride em.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Where was Levi in 1997?

Levi Leipheimer has not always been a sponsored athlete with an illustrious contract followed by team mechanics and doctors. So what did he actually do before taking 3rd in this years TDF? Where was he in 1997? Watch below (you must see the whole clip to understand):



That's right, he was racing in Jackson, Mississippi. I didn't believe it at first but here is proof. And more proof.

Final thought: Is it pronounced Lipeheimer or Leepheimer?

New Product: FSA OS-99 Stem

Full Speed Ahead's lightest stem ever! Coming in at only 98 grams for the 100 mm. Awesome! You are looking at 7075 series aluminum (pronounced "alyoumineeum"), 4 Ti bolt faceplate, and comes in sizes from 90mm to your longer 130mm. Finally 35 stack height with a +/- 6 degree rise. Your LBS should be able to have these guys in stock somewhere around August 10. Will be installing one of these beauties on my roadie ASAP. Maybe a review will follow...

fyxomatosis

Yea, these guys rock. I wrote in and made it on the site. SB, thats me. Click Here.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

How to Repo a Bike

So yea it sucks but bike theft does exist. It is one of the most revolting, cowardly, back-stabbing things one individual can do to another. I am pretty sure if Jesus was still here, "thall shall not steal another man/womans bicycle" would be added to the Big Ten.

Watch Cam McCaul as he shows the correct method of repossessing a bike here.

Why I Ride: The Art of Bicycling in New York

On a weekly basis I am interrogated by customers regarding how to install a motor on their new bicycle. To which I reply: Nuts! No no; I merely state this is a bicycle sir/mam, you are the motor.

The layman person does not understand why we ride, why we shave our legs, why we enjoy to sweat, or why we could drive but we don't. The guys over at Why I Ride decided they would try to explain to people why. A book somewhat 60 pages long gives details from many through pictures, stories, or other means why they ride. And more specifically why they ride in New York City.

Download the PDF here. Yea its FREE!!!

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Speedtest.net

Test your Internet connection speed at Speedtest.net

Want to know your broadband bandwith speed for downloading those latest TDF pics? Click icon above. Did you beat 2288 kbps?

Contador Wins, Contador Wins!

Count em...one, two, three men from American Team Discovery have finished in the top 10 of one of the most prestigious, most rigorous races occurring in the world today. Also congrats to super domestique George Hincapie for leading a teammate 8 times to winning this great race. You looked magnificent as you rode toward the Arc de Triumph dressed in the most beautiful flag in the world.

To the Australians: what a glorious race you guys had. Cadel, maybe things could have been different if cheaters were not in our sport, but if the worst thing to happen to you is you received second on one of the most exalted stages ever, then your life was not half bad.

Soler, with your polka-dot jersey win, Barloworld will be extremely happy with all of the publicity you have provided for them and Cannondale. I see many expensive contract possibilities in your near future. As for Tom Boonen, the David Beckham of cycling, your aim with water bottles is as good as your sprinting abilities. You deserve green without a doubt as even some of your rivals could not finish the whole of the race.

Team CSC is always a favorite of mine. Carlos rode magnificently in the mountains however maybe due to Bjarne's recent faults and crashes Sastre nor CSC finished with an podiums.

Finally to Vino, Rasmu, and any others that were arrested due to doping allegations. I hope that the tests may have been tainted from French scientists due to the jealousy of your successes; however if not, you have only brought shame to your name and disgraced a beautiful sport.

Of course the sport of cycling does not end at the conclusion of the Tour de France, it never ends. Many questions have been left unanswered and these gladiators on bikes will continue to train to become even better athletes.

But for now, Au revior le Tour et au revior mes amis

...

Saturday, July 28, 2007

No Cyclingnews Flash...Yet

At 22:42 CST there has not yet been a Cyclingnews Flash posted. For the past week we have all been signing on to the great website only to find terrible news of cheaters in our sport. Hopefully there will be no more of these negative news flashes anytime soon.

Bon chance Alberto, Cadel, et Levi! Vive le Tour!

Older Song, New to Me

For some reason I am really liking this song in this week of my life. & it's really cute how the chick and guy philander each other...

Song: Lazy Eyes
Artist: Silversun Pickups

Happiness

SOPHOCLES:

When a man has lost all happiness/ he's not alive. Call him a breathing corpse.

Riding a bike makes me very happy, therefore I am very alive.

:)

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

The Brasstown Climb Teaser

On the way up:

At the Top!

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

No Vino, Please No

Alexandre Vinokourov allegedly has tested positive for blood doping following the time trial Saturday of the TDF . Nuff said... (Maybe this is all just a bad dream or joke.)

Updates from the extreme climb up Brasstown Bald coming soon!

Monday, July 23, 2007

The Bald

Headed to Brasstown now. 20% grade for two miles. Now I am starting to wonder why. Look for us here, I'll stick my head in front of the cam sometime today if I can.

Carpe' every diem!!!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Miles, Miles, More Miles

The only thing that can help us now is saddle time as we prepare for the hardest there is. More on the bike, less on the comp. Sad, but here is a peak:

Thursday, July 12, 2007

CSC and Jens both staying!

Even with all of the controversy surrounding Team Director Bjarne Riis, CSC has vowed to continue their sponsorship of his cycling team following this season "after careful consideration" reports Velonews. Also of great news CSC has extended Jens Voigt's contract for another 2 years. Voigt continually talks of how much he likes riding for CSC and hopes to retire while wearing the colors of red, white, and black. Jens is a favorite not only among his teammates for his hard work and dedication but also within the pro peleton.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Energy Fiend -- Death by Caffeine

Ever wonder how many cups of coffee it would take to put you 6 feet under? I never have but I guess someone did. The guys at energy fiend will tell you in conjunction with your weight how much of your fav. energy drink you can consume before your heart stops beating. Comical in a weird way right? Also find out all you need to know about your special morning wake up drink. But if you think about it, what two things go together like peas and carrots? That's right...cycling and coffee. :)

New York Times Offers Bicycle Commute Advice

What is the most abundant mechanical in cycling? Broken Chain? Broken Spoke? Frame Failure? Wrong, wrong, and wrong. Flat tyres have done everything from destroying a dream of winning your local race to being late to the office for that important meeting with the CEO. Even though steps can be taken so that a flat is some-what preventable, they still happen. When it does happen, are you prepared? Do you hitchhike or can you change the tube/sew-up yourself? Lauren Hefferon, a free lance writer for the New York Times, published today a gear review of pumps that you can carry with you on the bike or in your m-bag to help recover after that devastating piece of glass jumped out in front of your tyre. Personally I am a huge fan of all Crank Brothers products. Here for the article.

Best of YouTube Podcast


Podcasts are great. Whether you are catching up on iPhone reviews, the right way to clean a sensor of a Nikon D80 SLR, or just listening to what is going on in the cycling world there are four or five podcasts that are right for you. Because I am such a fan and listen on a daily basis I want to share the ones that are truly worth a download. My newest added podcast is a video podcast called thebestofyoutube. It can be found on iTunes but check out the above for a little teaser...

Monday, July 09, 2007

Ultegra Shifter Surgery

Cyclists all try in some form or fashion try to do their own mechanical work. Some know what they are doing and everything is fine, some fail miserably, and some know what they are doing but things fail anyway. This is an example of the latter. Great chick however for some reason her derailleur cable decided to totally detach itself from the rest of its body leaving the remainder within the shifter. Kind of reminds me of an umbillical cord being cut from a baby. That's kind of gross to think about but anyway. This actully turned out to not be as bad of a fix as it first started out being and she is now riding very satisfied once again. Even though I am a total SRAM geek and ride Force on my super sweet S-Works Tarmac, Shimano STI is pretty awesome. What I pulled out at the end >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(The shifter fully recovered.)

Anybody have a name for a cable head without the rest of its body? If you want more info about the surgery leave me a comment with your contact info....Thanks!