Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
laTour Update
It's coming together...stages are set (unless I need a last-minute re-route of a stage or 2 to get around fresh TAR & CHIP crap...are you as tired of those "ROAD TO BE OILED NEXT WEEK" signs as I am? Our tax dollars at work...sheesh).
We may have up to 20 riders...that's 10/team for those who struggle with math. Race program almost complete - look for it in your email soon. I may be biased, but I think this is going to be a pretty cool event. If nothing else, it's unlike any ride you've done before. Stay tuned for team match-ups too...possibly the most unique blend of riders I could have hoped to assemble...
We may have up to 20 riders...that's 10/team for those who struggle with math. Race program almost complete - look for it in your email soon. I may be biased, but I think this is going to be a pretty cool event. If nothing else, it's unlike any ride you've done before. Stay tuned for team match-ups too...possibly the most unique blend of riders I could have hoped to assemble...
Saturday, July 25, 2009
fna
37 years old, 4 years off, return to a podium finish at the Tour...new team next year, coming back as team leader...wahoo...
Thursday, July 23, 2009
LaTour de LaTonka & the Tour
la-T-da: We're up to 18 confirmed riders, and 3 confirmed support guys (out of commission and/or retired from racing). This is going to be an interesting combo of riders...all kinds of strengths and experiences. And these stages aren't long, but there are 21 of them condensed into a 60 mile ride. My hope is that the most effective team tactics determine the outcome, and given the mix of ability and the course I think this will be the case...
The Real Tour: Okay, Contador was there first, so I guess he should be the guy, and he is undeniably strong...but attacking a 4-man breakaway when 2 of the guys are YOUR TEAM and the other 2 are your chief rivals, on the same team, who have everything to gain and nothing to lose? (and gain they did) Stupid, selfish, or both. He deserves for Lance to come back as a competitor and spank him in '10.
Plus, I hate anyone under 150 lbs. Except Sammy.
The Real Tour: Okay, Contador was there first, so I guess he should be the guy, and he is undeniably strong...but attacking a 4-man breakaway when 2 of the guys are YOUR TEAM and the other 2 are your chief rivals, on the same team, who have everything to gain and nothing to lose? (and gain they did) Stupid, selfish, or both. He deserves for Lance to come back as a competitor and spank him in '10.
Plus, I hate anyone under 150 lbs. Except Sammy.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
See? Told Ya So....
Contributed by the Bike Snob, by way of HD, aka Sonic:
Ride, Don't Train And thank your lucky chamois that you're not paid to pedal. As the season gets into full swing, you may find yourself working to achieve this year's cycling goals. This is a tremendous mistake.
Just as rules are made to be broken, beer is meant to be drunk and tubulars are meant to be punctured on the very first ride, so are goals made to be missed. The world is a beautiful place, full of endless possibilities. Every glorious day is an experience yet to be had, a sensation yet to be felt, a cheese yet to be tasted. Why then rule out all of these possibilities by focusing your entire existence on getting a top-10 finish in the Cat 4 field of the Blue Ridge Properties Kingsport Criterium in Kingsport, Tennessee, on July 12th?
Obviously some people need goals. These people are called "professional cyclists," and they exist to entertain us. We thrill to their victories, and we laugh uproariously at their defeats. However, while we should enjoy the exploits of professional cyclists, we should not seek to emulate them. Does Alberto Contador spend his leisure time cleaning people's teeth or folding clothes at Banana Republic? No, he does not. We do these things because we're paid to do them. Why should we want to do his job for free?
Even worse, some cyclists actually pay other people to help them experience the needless stress of being a professional. These people are called "coaches," and they set goals for you that are even more masochistic than the ones you might have set for yourself. This is like Alberto Contador paying your manager at Banana Republic to berate him for his poor folding technique.
Cycling is fun. Whether you prefer to race, or tour, or just get on your bike and wander, it's all volunteer work, and the only way you can really lose is to hurt yourself. Setting goals serves only to reduce the limitless vista that is cycling enjoyment to a tiny sliver of possibility in which you have maybe a fifty-fifty chance of succeeding. And I don't like those odds.
The Bike Snob
Ride, Don't Train And thank your lucky chamois that you're not paid to pedal. As the season gets into full swing, you may find yourself working to achieve this year's cycling goals. This is a tremendous mistake.
Just as rules are made to be broken, beer is meant to be drunk and tubulars are meant to be punctured on the very first ride, so are goals made to be missed. The world is a beautiful place, full of endless possibilities. Every glorious day is an experience yet to be had, a sensation yet to be felt, a cheese yet to be tasted. Why then rule out all of these possibilities by focusing your entire existence on getting a top-10 finish in the Cat 4 field of the Blue Ridge Properties Kingsport Criterium in Kingsport, Tennessee, on July 12th?
Obviously some people need goals. These people are called "professional cyclists," and they exist to entertain us. We thrill to their victories, and we laugh uproariously at their defeats. However, while we should enjoy the exploits of professional cyclists, we should not seek to emulate them. Does Alberto Contador spend his leisure time cleaning people's teeth or folding clothes at Banana Republic? No, he does not. We do these things because we're paid to do them. Why should we want to do his job for free?
Even worse, some cyclists actually pay other people to help them experience the needless stress of being a professional. These people are called "coaches," and they set goals for you that are even more masochistic than the ones you might have set for yourself. This is like Alberto Contador paying your manager at Banana Republic to berate him for his poor folding technique.
Cycling is fun. Whether you prefer to race, or tour, or just get on your bike and wander, it's all volunteer work, and the only way you can really lose is to hurt yourself. Setting goals serves only to reduce the limitless vista that is cycling enjoyment to a tiny sliver of possibility in which you have maybe a fifty-fifty chance of succeeding. And I don't like those odds.
The Bike Snob
Monday, July 13, 2009
LaTour de LaTonka Is On!!!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!!
The first ever le Tour de Latonka will be held Sunday, August 16, 7:00a.m.
RENFREW RAS MUSINGS:
Special props to Ed Johnson and Henry Dimmick for the Renfrew Ras Road Race yesterday. HD did it again, a great race for the participants and a super first time event.
Couldn't - wouldn't - have been the caliber that it was without the Ag3r gang - not sure I've ever seen that level of volunteerism from one team at one event. Bike races are so much better when they are run, organized, and staffed by bike racers. Good job guys.
I missed a key element of posing in front of my fellow racers - legs weren't shaved. Won't make that mistake again.
The first ever le Tour de Latonka will be held Sunday, August 16, 7:00a.m.
RENFREW RAS MUSINGS:
Special props to Ed Johnson and Henry Dimmick for the Renfrew Ras Road Race yesterday. HD did it again, a great race for the participants and a super first time event.
Couldn't - wouldn't - have been the caliber that it was without the Ag3r gang - not sure I've ever seen that level of volunteerism from one team at one event. Bike races are so much better when they are run, organized, and staffed by bike racers. Good job guys.
I missed a key element of posing in front of my fellow racers - legs weren't shaved. Won't make that mistake again.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
State TT Championships...
...great showing boys...makes me wanna train... (chin scratch)....hmmmmmm....
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