Tour of Flanders coming on Sunday. Here's a quick taste from last year's race, a nice win for Stijn Devolder. What the hell kind of name is Stijn? Belgian, motherfuckers!
Check out the NASCAR-styley crash highlights too.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Wrecked
When I went to bed last night I was empty. Quads? Cooked. Calves? Tight. Hamstrings? Like piano wire.
But I didn't feel too bad when I woke up, so I rode. I was tired and sore, but it's the Tour of Flanders this weekend, so I rationalized that if those guys can go out and suffer on the cobbles, then I could slog through a day of low energy and muscle fatigue.
Well, I failed to factor into the equation that I'm 37 and their average age is about 27, that they live and breathe suffering, whereas I just dabble.
So at some point I wrecked my back. I'm sitting here at my desk, ice packed and ibuprofened. I can hardly walk.
I'll try to post some video of last year's Tour of Flanders for your Friday video treat.
But I didn't feel too bad when I woke up, so I rode. I was tired and sore, but it's the Tour of Flanders this weekend, so I rationalized that if those guys can go out and suffer on the cobbles, then I could slog through a day of low energy and muscle fatigue.
Well, I failed to factor into the equation that I'm 37 and their average age is about 27, that they live and breathe suffering, whereas I just dabble.
So at some point I wrecked my back. I'm sitting here at my desk, ice packed and ibuprofened. I can hardly walk.
I'll try to post some video of last year's Tour of Flanders for your Friday video treat.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
There's a fight a brewin'.
As I poke around the innertubes here, seeking news and the glad tidings of fellow cyclists, I hear a rumbling, angry noise, the noise that precedes a rumble, an angry, rumbling, noisy, pre-rumble sort of angry noisiness.
Conflicts at Critical Mass events, between drivers and cyclists. Radio DJs advocating the automotive assault of road bound cyclists. Cyclists removing side mirrors with u-locks. Videos of drivers buzzing cyclists. Pending litigation. Low-level carping. Waving of arms. Shaking of fists.
Perhaps this is part of a natural progression, especially in our more crowded cities. Cars, those tyrannical beasts, are encountering more and more unpredictable, little, flitting cycley insects. A populace already pushed to the edge by their car-bound isolation and sense of asphalt entitlement are being shoved into the abyss by our (sometimes) well-meaning society of cyclists.
Perhaps we are reaching some sort of actual critical mass, a point at which cars have to really deal with bikes. There will be some necessary conflict. The rough edges of both populations will be planed smooth.
Maybe there's even a future in which we, the two-wheeled, will outnumber the four-wheeled.
I certainly hope so, but for my part, I can't advocate violence, no matter how much I feel drawn to it. I have engaged in conflict. I have shouted and waved fists. I have also, on better days, forgiven those who have cut me off. By and large, these road confrontations are born more from simple human frailty than actual malice.
I am always happier when I forgo the angry response. There may be a fight a brewin', but we don't have to show up for it. We just have to try to arrive alive and hope for a more cyclistic future, life in a velocipedic utopia.
Word.
Conflicts at Critical Mass events, between drivers and cyclists. Radio DJs advocating the automotive assault of road bound cyclists. Cyclists removing side mirrors with u-locks. Videos of drivers buzzing cyclists. Pending litigation. Low-level carping. Waving of arms. Shaking of fists.
Perhaps this is part of a natural progression, especially in our more crowded cities. Cars, those tyrannical beasts, are encountering more and more unpredictable, little, flitting cycley insects. A populace already pushed to the edge by their car-bound isolation and sense of asphalt entitlement are being shoved into the abyss by our (sometimes) well-meaning society of cyclists.
Perhaps we are reaching some sort of actual critical mass, a point at which cars have to really deal with bikes. There will be some necessary conflict. The rough edges of both populations will be planed smooth.
Maybe there's even a future in which we, the two-wheeled, will outnumber the four-wheeled.
I certainly hope so, but for my part, I can't advocate violence, no matter how much I feel drawn to it. I have engaged in conflict. I have shouted and waved fists. I have also, on better days, forgiven those who have cut me off. By and large, these road confrontations are born more from simple human frailty than actual malice.
I am always happier when I forgo the angry response. There may be a fight a brewin', but we don't have to show up for it. We just have to try to arrive alive and hope for a more cyclistic future, life in a velocipedic utopia.
Word.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Product Endorsements!!!!
I'm loathe to sell anything for anyone. Ever. BUT...this winter I encountered two products, which I found unswervingly helpful in my pursuit of year-round cycling happiness.
And now I share them with you.
The first is a pair of knicker tights by a company called Black Bottoms. I'd give you a direct link, but their site seems to be frames-based (LAME!!!!!), so I can't do that. However, the knickers themselves are the warmest and most comfortable I've ever worn. They cost $72 from the site. I got mine, new with tags, off eBay for $35, but I think they're worth $72. In cold weather, I'd wear them every day.
The other is this. So warm, so comfortable. Again, I get them cheaper on eBay, like $30 each, but they're worth more. This base layer with a t-shirt got me through days as cold as 30 with no problem.
I'm not a big gear guy. I don't like to get all skin-suited to ride around town, but the winter demands a little gearing up just to make riding possible, sans hypothermia.
There's a lot of crap out there. I own some of it. But these two products were big wins for me, so I thought I'd share.
Another recommendation I could make is to search eBay for old wool cycling jerseys. There are a ton out there for cheap, and wool is good.
You're welcome.
And now I share them with you.
The first is a pair of knicker tights by a company called Black Bottoms. I'd give you a direct link, but their site seems to be frames-based (LAME!!!!!), so I can't do that. However, the knickers themselves are the warmest and most comfortable I've ever worn. They cost $72 from the site. I got mine, new with tags, off eBay for $35, but I think they're worth $72. In cold weather, I'd wear them every day.
The other is this. So warm, so comfortable. Again, I get them cheaper on eBay, like $30 each, but they're worth more. This base layer with a t-shirt got me through days as cold as 30 with no problem.
I'm not a big gear guy. I don't like to get all skin-suited to ride around town, but the winter demands a little gearing up just to make riding possible, sans hypothermia.
There's a lot of crap out there. I own some of it. But these two products were big wins for me, so I thought I'd share.
Another recommendation I could make is to search eBay for old wool cycling jerseys. There are a ton out there for cheap, and wool is good.
You're welcome.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
When I'm fast
It's usually because the wind is at my back. I'm riding along, feeling good, and I think, "Damn, I'm fast today!" And then I realize that there's a 25 knot wind at my back. Yeah, you're fast, douchebag!
You can tell if the wind is at your back, if you can hear. When there is a head or side wind, you get that ocean sound in your ears, and you have to tilt your head out of the breeze to hear. I find this is especially helpful when determining if that rumbling sound is a truck driving up your ass. I mean, sometimes you just can't afford to look over your left shoulder.
It's too bad the road isn't like this blog. I appear to be completely alone here.
Cyclosaur and Meatball claim to be "too busy" to bless us with their wisdom. Or maybe they've been hit by the bus.
Should have cocked their head sideways. Would have heard it coming.
You can tell if the wind is at your back, if you can hear. When there is a head or side wind, you get that ocean sound in your ears, and you have to tilt your head out of the breeze to hear. I find this is especially helpful when determining if that rumbling sound is a truck driving up your ass. I mean, sometimes you just can't afford to look over your left shoulder.
It's too bad the road isn't like this blog. I appear to be completely alone here.
Cyclosaur and Meatball claim to be "too busy" to bless us with their wisdom. Or maybe they've been hit by the bus.
Should have cocked their head sideways. Would have heard it coming.
Monday, March 30, 2009
My favorite rider wins!
Jens Voigt is my favorite pro rider for a number of reasons. First of all, he doesn't take his shit too seriously. Second, he's both German AND funny. Third, no one gets in more breakaways. No one is more aggressive. He's loyal, selfless, the perfect teammate. Finally, he's older than I am. We're both 37, but he was born in September, and I was born in December.
Voigt won the Criterium International this weekend. It was the fifth time he's won it. That beats Jacque Anquetil's total and ties Raymond Poulidor for the most ever. The Criterium is a particularly cool race, because it's a three stage race (one flat, one mountain, one time-trial) held in two days. It requires all the skills of top-level cycling and all the tenacity of the most hardcore cyclist.
This Cycling News Interview held before the race tells you everything you need to know about this guy.
Here's a choice quote:
CN: The bad weather is good news for you?
JV: Yes, you can say that anything that makes the race bad and difficult is good for me.
In another interview he talks about liking a race where he can throw everybody into the meat grinder, including himself, and see what comes out.
Here's video of him crushing the field at the end of this year's Criterium:
Voigt won the Criterium International this weekend. It was the fifth time he's won it. That beats Jacque Anquetil's total and ties Raymond Poulidor for the most ever. The Criterium is a particularly cool race, because it's a three stage race (one flat, one mountain, one time-trial) held in two days. It requires all the skills of top-level cycling and all the tenacity of the most hardcore cyclist.
This Cycling News Interview held before the race tells you everything you need to know about this guy.
Here's a choice quote:
CN: The bad weather is good news for you?
JV: Yes, you can say that anything that makes the race bad and difficult is good for me.
In another interview he talks about liking a race where he can throw everybody into the meat grinder, including himself, and see what comes out.
Here's video of him crushing the field at the end of this year's Criterium:
Friday, March 27, 2009
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