Thursday, August 30, 2012

Rosche


Later that same year at le Tour, Hinault had retired, and LeMan was recovering from his bird hunting escapades, Roche was the favorite. 1987 saw the most mountainous Tour since the war. On stage 20, crossing Galibier, Madeleine, and finishing on La Plagne, Rosche attacked early. Delgado then attacked, and Roche found himself 1:30 down in the middle of the last climb. He then crushed the remainder, in his big ring, pulling back all but 4 seconds. After crossing the finish line, he collapsed and lost consciousness. He came to after receiving oxygen and was asked if he was OK. His reply was “yes, but I am not ready for a woman straight away” (and that my friends is how it’s done).
From Velominati’s profile of Stephen Roche.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Give me some feedback bike nerds!!

I have one race and one project I am curious on your input...

First up... Cycocross!!!! I am going to run disc breaks again and am trying to find a good option for a wheelset. I know there are many, many, nay sayers on disc breaks for cross. Well I embrace change, you all can take your canti breaks and your 26" MTB's and suck it!!!

Now if only the manufacturers can follow suit. WTF guys? Get your S%$T together!! There are like 5 companies that are making disc bikes yet I have found one that makes a wheelset. I see Easton has one, but unless your JPow, us working stiffs can't get our hands on them.

See, they do exist... JPow's ride..
So I have found Reynolds makes one, Reynolds Assault CX Disc. And that's all I can find and better yet, I don't know of a shop that can order Reynolds. Anyone know of any other options? Other than running a MTB wheelset... I know that is an option, I am just tired of rigging stuff, wanted to make an attempt in actually putting cross specific parts on a cross bike. I want to try tubular, but as of right now I am just leaning towards another stans set and running tubeless. 

On another subject entirely, the only logical thing to do with cross on the horizon is enter a 60 mile MTB race, the Berryman Epic


I have never done this race and it has been on my "to do" list for a while now. From reading other blogs n such I have a handle on conditions, etc...  So I have two questions to my 3 readers.. I am sure some of you have raced BTE before.

First, I think I need to get some beefier tires. But what? I normally run a Fast Track on the back and a Captain on the front. From what I gather, its rocky as crap and I know I will be in no mood to be changing flat tires.

Second, camel-pack or no? I freggin hate those damn things, yet I would rather wear one than run out of fluids and/or food...

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Wow, its been a while

I wore a jacket on my Monday morning ride!! Holy crap!! Anyway.....

I have been so busy I haven't had any time to post any bike ramblings lately. I have been a bit out of it with work and then on vacation for a week. I missed several races due to it, but man, the beach is awfully nice this time of year..
After a week of this, its hard to get back to the daily grind!
It is very true statement that a running motor wants to stay running, a resting motor wants to stay at rest. Vacation got me in rest mode, ate like crap and did nothing but relax for a solid week, and now its really hard getting back in gear, let me tell ya..

Looking at the the racing schedules coming up and it is very bleak, making it hard to train hard with nothing really on the horizon. You have a race up in Swanson Park NE thats not that far away, but its this weekend and I just got back from vacation and am sitting kinda fat and legs kinda weak at the present moment.

We have a good MTB race in Columbia next month and some Endurance races, but really its about cross time if you can believe it..

So its looking for me its maybe one more MTB race and then on to cross. Where did the summer go????
Summer has about left us and I have only raced 6 times. Man, things sure don't pan out like you think sometimes but that's life..

I had a blast on my only two road races but they look to be done also.. 

Next up UFD Championship on Sept 30..(Maybe that is, I haven't ridden my MTB in 2 months!!)
&
HOLY CRAPBALLS!!  Cross is here man..
  • 9.22 & 9.23 Manions Cyclocross
  • 10.21 & 10.22 Joules Cross

On another note, I am toying with the idea of riding my MTB Single Speed again.. Everytime I think about it, I smile. That's got to mean something, right?

Other than my babble, here is some cool stuff you might check into...

Ethos Racing has a good link to Dan Miller, a stupid fast dude from Columbia. Its a great read, I highly suggest it..

Another good little tidbit is a local roadie, Joe Schmalz was picked up by Bissell and racing in the Tour of Utah. I don't know him but thats pretty damn cool!