Libor Karas - Bike Trials

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These videos are from the '90's. Libor has been (and will remain) one of my favorite riders. Besides being great on the bike, he is a pretty nice, approachable guy.

Back when I worked at IT&B Libor came out to Hawaii, stayed at the owners house and put on a couple of shows(demos?) at the shop. Just kinda impromptu, on the front sidewalk. I think someone grabbed a picnic bench from down the street. Everyone had a great time. Too bad I didn't have a camera available to shoot pics of him.

Anyway, one more video of Libor for today.

Depeche Mode - "Wrong" (official music video)

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Great song, great video. Love it! Hit's home.

"Wrong" By Depeche Mode

Adidas Originals - Star Wars™ Cantina 2010

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I know it's the Star Wars geek in me, but I'm loving this new Adidas spot with Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg and others. I don't even like Snoop Dogg, but this spot is awesome.

I am just as responsible for this

This image is from this link.

Everyone's looking for someone to blame for this. Yes, there are companies and government officials that are/should be held accountable. But ultimately, I can say that I know that I am responsible for this. At least just as much as the next person. There are actions I can take to reduce my use of petroleum. My continual use has led to this situation. I am going to commit to reducing so that hopefully this will never happen again.

Red Herring - Blog Chatter

Red Herring? Follow the link and read the post. It does make sense that for too much attention is paid on the topic of motorized doping over the focus on biological doping, which is apparent that is still pretty widespread.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that it's laughable, I do believe that if teams wanted to, they could easily make use of the technology and, I believe, go undetected. So I do think it's worth it to at least be aware that it's possible.

But the UCI should only be giving this an acknowledgement and focus again on finding dopers and getting them out.

Why does it matter what you wear when riding?

I found this fascinating quote today:

If “cyclist” somehow has come to mean, however, that you wear “full-spandex kit” and so on every time you ride, maybe we should work on redefining the term. To me, it doesn’t really matter what you wear, especially if you are simply a person who rides a bicycle.Bjsmith, puncture proof, Jun 2010

I have to agree. I'm no less a cyclist when riding my dumpster-dive commuter with mio bellissimo moglie to the farmers market then when riding my roadie-racer in a spanked-ex superhero costume. Remember, just run whatcha brung, ride whatch got, and wear what-eva's comfy.

Indian Heights mountain bike trails

Photo from Post-Bulletin

So the local mtb club goes thru the proper channels and follows the rules to expand the existing trail network and of course now there's resistance.

So let me get this straight, generally (according to comments on other articles about cycling) people in this area are against cyclists on the roads. Now they are against cyclists on singletrack. Hmmm.

One of the reasons I sold my mountain bike a long time ago, was the lack of places to ride. So when I hear that there are people working on building more trails, I get a little excited and reconsider getting a mountain bike. So if you care at all about having a place to ride a mountain bike, read the article and vote. Make sure you vote. And if you feel you can argue a point, post a comment. I'll refrain only because I can't stand reading the comments against.

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=455351


View Indian Heights in a larger map

Are you a hater?

Seriously? Is this ok? Now I really don't know. Is this humor? Is it not worth mentioning? Or is it something bad?

The real question is, am I not any different? I'll make jokes at others expense. I'll put others down. Ok, I may not say that I've hurt or killed someone and pass it off as a joke, but I'm sure I've come pretty close. So am I a hater? Just like this person?

Originally found on http://www.averyjenkins.com/wp-trackback.php?p=247, via Gwadzilla.

Bloc Party - Like Eating Glass

It's so cold in this house. One of my faves. "Like Eating Glass" By Bloc Party

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Dear Fast

I look around and realize you left me. I guess I was hoping it wasn't real, but I guess you really are gone. Of course now I look at myself and wonder if it was something I did. In fact I'm pretty sure it is. Or maybe it's something that I didn't do? Either way, I don't blame you. The time we had together was great, but how quickly that time passes.

My only thought now is in how to win you back. Do I ease into trying to bring you close? Do I tempt you with promises of endless weekends spent together. I don't really know. But I do know that I miss you. Please come back.

Want you back in my life,
Gunnar

New header image - Giro 2010 in Vlissingen

Giro 2010 in Vlissingen
Originally uploaded by esquilo5

There's a new header image. I used this image from flickr. Thanks brah.

Talk about cheating! -Bike with engine (doped bike)

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Holy cow! Doping is bad and wrong. But even the dopers are riding bikes, putting in miles and training. But adding motors changes a bicycle into a motorcycle. And there's no way that it is not cheating. I mean out and out cheating!

Then again, I don't think it's right to call out a specific riders performance as suspicious and then say you're not actually accusing them. I think if this is actually available, there will be riders and/or teams that will make use of it. But I really doubt that Cancellara would use it.

I don't know, what do you think? Real or not? In use? Suspicious riders?

For you web people out there

Google is getting into the web font arena. Not sure exactly what it means, but I'm gonna play around with it.

They have 18 fonts at this time, a couple with multiple variants and/or families. Most of the fonts are fairly conservative and readable. Which is good. Nothing crazy yet to uglify the web anymore then it already is.

Doping, doping, doping

All the bloggers and twits are chattering away about this and this regarding Floyd Landis and his doping.

Seems funny, I'm still in the middle of reading his book, and now I'm not sure what parts to really believe about any of it. I never doubted that he doped, but now his allegations about others, and how he got his drugs sounds like when I was a kid on the playground and someone was caught for doing something and they trying to bring everyone else into it.

I'm not surprised by his allegations against Mr. Fancypants, but I am surprised by the allegations against Captain America who it seems (at least in the book) he was pretty close to.

I do hope that this will help with investigations and cleans up the sport.

Ride of Silence - Too negative?

So, as a cyclist, I want more people out on the roads riding their bikes. I'm always saddened to hear about an accident involving a cyclist, especially a death. So the Ride of Silence made sense to me to remember those that were killed riding their bikes on the road.

But then I read this article that raises the point that it may be sending the wrong message. The positive vs. negative and what will encourage more people to ride. It's almost the same argument for and against bike paths, lanes and trails vs. better roads for all users. (ahem: rumble strips?)

I don't really know what the answers to these are, what do you think?

Yehuda Moon | Ride of Silence

Ride of Silence

Link to Ride of Silence.

Ride safe.

Almanzo results, every year to current

2012 Results

Hot, dry, dusty and windy.

Almanzo 100 Finishers:

1 - 5:56:30 Rettig Dirk 1st Male
2 - 5:56:40 Koeneman Brian 2nd Male
3 - 5:56:42 Wentz Steve 3rd Male
4 - 5:58:05 Stanford Ian
5 - 5:59:00 Oien Peter
6 - 5:59:20 Gillihan Todd
7 - 5:59:25 Bell Jim
8 - 5:59:40 Keys Brad
9 - 6:04:15 Bianchi Keith
10 - 6:05:05 Krumrich Paul
11 - 6:05:35 Horkey Ryan
12 - 6:10:00 O'Brien Devin
13 - 6:13:15 Rinkleff Franz
14 - 6:13:30 Ziemer Dave
15 - 6:17:35 Krobakken Taylor
16 - 6:27:05 Johnson Mike
17 - 6:27:15 Thompson John
18 - 6:30:55 Tweed Evan
19 - 6:31:25 Lindberg Andy
20 - 6:32:15 Beveridge Sam
21 - 6:40:35 Fuhrmann Brian
22 - 6:40:40 Schad Charlie
23 - 6:40:45 Olson Trevor
24 - 6:40:55 Zabrowski Jack
25 - 6:42:00 Hippen Scott

Almanzo 100, 2010 - Victory or Disappointment

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This is a really long post. So I'll give you a short version here. You can continue reading to get my whole story, but I completely understand if you dont. I didn't bonk, but I didn't finish anywhere near where I wanted to. The leaders came in at 5:15, while I limped in at 6:46. My legs were not there for it. Keep reading for the full report, pictures, video and map.

Champions Day

Almanzo says today, the Friday before the Almanzo 100 race, is to be known as Champions Day.

So to everyone, especially anyone heading to Spring Valley tomorrow, have a great Champions Day.

If you could only read my mind

I wouldn't have to post this blog…

It would save a bunch of time. But I suppose I have nothing better to do. Right? I mean other then attempt being even more awesomer. Not that it's even possible.

Anyhow, there's this event on Saturday that I'm attending. It should be a good time. 400 or so bicycle riders hoping to roll over 100 or so miles of southeast Minnesotas gravel roads.

Some people will ride it. I hope to race it. My tactics are… … … Don't get - Mmm… Dropped! [in case you didn't realize, you're supposed to read/hear that the way the Beastie Boys rap it]

But seriously, I'm gonna toe the line up front and ride with the lead group for as long as I can. Simple as pie.

Bike still needs to be set up though. I need to swap pedals with the SPD-like ones I use on the fixed gear, as well as mount the 700x30c Kenda Kwick cyclo-cross tires I got early in the spring. They are a pretty tight fit, so it's a good thing it looks like dry weather. Other then that I gotta pack water, food, tools then lube my chain and I'm ready.

Team Toms Shoes - represent! It's too bad the jerseys aren't ready for this race. Looks like I'll have to find another way to represent for them.

Tour of California now open | Velofight

So maybe you don't care about the Giro of the Italy's. No big deal. I understand that. Well now you can get your redneck on and pick a team for a USA grand tour *ahem*. Velofight in the Tour of the California's is open to pick. The only thing that sucks is that Radioshack seems pretty stacked (imagine Mr. FancyPants as your super-domestiqe), only one Schleck on the roster, and to many riders are considered stars. Makes picking a team tough.

Remember if your looking to join a Velofight group, join FAKAWOT!