Independence Day

I can think of no better way to celebrate Independence Day (besides spending time with the Fam) then with a bike ride. Cycling is the ultimate expression of freedom. You are out there, traveling, using you own power.

I vaguely remember when I was small and experiencing the freedom that came with the mobility of getting on a bike and riding. Exploring some of the other neighborhoods and just riding around. As I got older, trips took me out of the neighborhoods and into other towns, or out of towns and into countryside.

Some kids first experience this kind of freedom when they get a drivers license. But to me, that was different. Driving to me was that I was (incorrect thinking here) grown-up. To me, to be able to experience the country by using my own effort is more freeing then to just get from point A to point B like we do with the car.

I was able to get out and put in a couple hours in this morning. I could have been longer, but, while I still enjoyed it today, I don't really care to ride in the rain much. But even with the wet, for a couple hours I was free, in a way that I can-not explain.

We celebrate this day, as the birthday of our country. That we live in the United Sates of America. And that we are free. I hope that I really understand what the really means, to be free. I hope you all have a happy and safe Independence Day. And if you get a chance, get out on your bike and experience that type of freedom.

I wonder if LeMond knows something

or if he's just blowing hot air again. Link:http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/greg-lemond/the-art-of-peaking-for-the-tour-de-france

My favorite for this year’s Tour is Alberto Contador. Last year, he not only had to beat all of his competitors, but he also had to race against his own team, for which he deserves another yellow jersey.

My Lance Armstrong prediction? Either he will not start or he will pull out just before the race enters France. I have a feeling that the world of cycling is about to change for the better.

I guess we'll see.

SportTracks to release version 3 soon

No date set, but this looks like it's gonna be worth the update.

SportTracks 3.0 includes a ton of small bug fixes and enhancements as well as a handful of brand new features. Major sections of the software have been rewritten and a new API for our plugin developer community will make possible exciting and innovative new plugins not possible in 2.1.

Waiting patiently. Visit this link for more info: http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/sporttracks/3.0-is-coming.php.

On the way back to finding my form

Finally, after 6 days off of riding, I was able to not only get up with enough time to, but actually head out the door with wheels rolling down the road. I was really starting to get frustrated, kinda like a teen boy on a double date with his dream girl and her much larger older brother.

All kidding aside, I know I'm no pro (or PRO as some bloggers say). In fact I wouldn't even consider myself an amateur. I'm just a rider who identifies himself as a racer. Even so, I just train. Train-train-train. Train for the one event I do each year. Then train to not get dropped on group rides. And finally train to do well at the club time trials and CX 'practice' races in the fall.

Because I train, I take myself way too serious. And when I miss days of riding, I feel my 'form' rolling away from me. Form is the combination of fitness (strength and endurance), skills and psychological attitude needed to perform at my best. Of those things I think that attitude is the first to go, and it effects me the most.

Physically, a couple days off the bike isn't gonna alter a training plan much, but in my head, I see the strength and endurance leaving me, causing a downward spiraling effect where I then figure I'm losing 'form,' so why bother getting up early.

Or, as was the case yesterday, the smallest hiccup in the plan to ride, keeps me from rolling. I had everything set, the alarm woke me up without me fighting too much with the snooze button, I got dressed and rolled my bike out the door, ready to battle the climbs. I climbed on and went to turn on the Edge 305, and nothing. Even resetting it didn't work. Realized I must have left it on when I put it away last time, so the battery must have been dead.

Instead of continuing on my way (I was already up and dressed and ready to go), I went back in my house, got into my bed, and went back to sleep. That is for sure, not a 'PRO' thing to do.

But today... today was redemption for me. I made sure the battery was charged, got up at the right time, did the routine again, and was able to get 2 hours of a spinning workout in before work. Watched the sun come up, even. It was great.

In a lot of ways I now feel renewed. Like I have a fresh start again. I realize I just need to keep the wheels rolling, and I can still get some form back for fall. Right now the plan is to finish this week with some climbing work on the fixedgear tomorrow, and a longer endurance ride on both Saturday and Sunday.

That'll set me up for a couple more endurance and intensity days next week before the fam and I go camping for a few days. No, I'm not taking the bike. But I am gonna have to get back into the groove pretty quickly when we get back.

Don't be afraid of traffic, be traffic.

Velofight: Tour de France

Join this group (Fakawot) to play along in a fun fantasy cycling league for the Tour de France. If you're good with your picks, you can even win some cool stuff from Mavic. But besides that it's just a fun way to keep track of the tour.

And just so you don't freak out, you can't make picks yet, because not all the real teams have made a final selection of riders they are sending. So it could be down to the wire for picking your team.

update 6/29/2010

Site is open to rooster creation. Get going. Who you gonna pick?

PB's Backyard

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This is a pretty cool video of some dirtjumping. Then again the jumping isn't anything you haven't seen before. In fact, I have almost the same jump set-up in my backyard. I was bustin' moves like that just this morning before breakfast. (just kidding)

What makes the video cool, is that it's shot using a new technology. See, high quality HD video can now be shot using remarkably small cameras like the Canon 7D and Canon 5D, allowing you to mount them on a small, electric powered, radio controlled, helicopter. So no need to set up a crane, truck, or skycam to get some amazing shots. Some more info after the jump.

AT-AT day afternoon

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Pretty sweet video of a real life pet AT-AT.

The Presets - My People

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Music for a Monday. "My People" By The Presets

Tour de France 2010, 15 days away

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There really isn't anything like the Tour. This years event will surely go down as one of the best. We have returning champions, rivals, new blood, ex-champions and ex-dopers all looking wear the maillot jaune on the podium in Paris. Excitement when I think about it.

Love this video (that I found thru Podium Cafe). I have no idea what the announcers are saying (screaming) as it's Norwegian. However I can understand when they express their manly, Norse love for Thor. But I think we all wouldn't have any problem showing our manly Norse love for Thor.

Line of Sight - Lucas Brunelle Production

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His videos are so cool. Yeah, I sound like a dork when I say that. But guess what, I am a dork. No argument from this blog.

So it may be worth it to attend the Bicycle Film Festival just to see this movie.

Now, this is the part of the post where I have to say that I do not recommend or condone riding like this. It could lead to injury, dismemberment or DEATH.

That being said, part of the attraction in cycling is the thrill factor. There are moments when riding, where you may be riding just on the inside edge of control, and one wrong move sends you into a world of hurt. And that's what attracts me to these videos.

I like that he included a clip of singletrack riding, because riding in traffic is very similar to riding singletrack.

Breaking story - Trek buys Eddy Merckx brand

In a move that is both surprising and predictable. The great american Trek bicycle making company has purchased the Eddy Merckx brand, consolidating it, renaming it the Eddy Merckx collection and is showing off the line as mass market kids bikes.

Trek’s John Burke said the company’s decision to roll Eddy Merckx into the Trek line was driven by desire to simplify its line and grow sales, particularly in the hot children's box store category.

Burke, Trek’s president, said box stores like Wal-Mart and Target began clamoring last fall for Eddy Merckx branded 16" kids and pseudo-BMX bikes offered by other brands. “Retailers were asking for that in droves,” he said.

This move combines a strong performance brand image, and a great money generating opportunity. "Plus, we just like to kill good brands. Look at Klein and Bontrager. It feels good to do what we do best." Burke said in an interview.

Apologies to Eddy Merckx for making fun of him. And happy 65th birthday to the greatest bicycle racer.

It's the Star Wars nerd in me...

But I love these images.

Classic and amazing. From Greg Peltz. 

38 BFD

Hey Mr. Fancypants, it really is no BFD. No one cares if they photoshopped your shirt. Maybe you should focus on bike racing or quit. Picking fights with the media is getting old. In fact it's pretty "lame bull5#!7."

Road bike used for trials and stunt riding.

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The video is worth it just for the backflip. (wait for it)

Chasing Legends Theatrical Trailer

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View this in HD at fullscreen! If it doesn't get the adrenaline pumping, you must be dead. Holy Cow!

Here's an example of how cycling is a positive influence

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Read this post. Full link address at the end of this post. Well worth it, especially if you know anything about the 80's hardcore punk era.
Of course, I'm not saying that anything or everything he does or did, is right or good. But you can see that cycling (as well as going vegan) has changed his life.

It was especially interesting because I just saw the movie "American Hardcore" which gives a sort-of history of the 80's hardcore punk time, mentioning both Bad Brains (who McGowan was a roadie for) and Cro Mags (who McGowan was the lead singer of).



http://cyclinginquisition.blogspot.com/2010/06/from-hare-krishna-to-singer-in-punk.html

UPDATE 6-15-2010

Apparently, the interview has been pulled down temporarily.

This post has been removed at the request of John. I'm working with him right now to get it back up. Stay tuned.

I hope it goes back online soon. It's very well worth the read.

Finally finished reading the Floyd Landis book

I started reading the book "Positively False" from Floyd Landis before he came out and admitted that he lied and that he's guilty of what he was accused of. In fact I was about halfway thru when that news came out, and it really took a while to finish it, knowing that it was full of lies.

What I come away with is that with a lie so big, his whole 'team' (to use his term) was either lying with him, or was totally and completely misled. And how much of what he is saying now it true. Are all the people he mentioned dopers? Did his parents know? Does he still (or ever) think the system is broken, and what did he think his lying would do? 

He spends a lot of time saying that he's fighting, not only for himself, but for other riders that were 'wrongly' accused. I can only think that if riders are accused, but innocent, and still disciplined. Then his lying and claiming innocence for so long has really hurt their cause.

In the end tho, aren't we all like Floyd. I mean seriously, it would be pretty hard for me to turn down the chance to win the TDF. And I've lied and tried to cover up things I was ashamed of doing. Not on the scale of this, but that's not really the point is it? And I think I've stuck to lies, thinking that if I fight back hard enough, that the accuser will drop it. But yet, even if that happens, eventually you need to come clean. And I guess that's what he's doing. At least I hope that's what he's doing.

I do hope that good comes out of the situation. I wonder if he'll come out with another book. One full of 'truths' and real explanations 

I'm not going to be able to eat chocolate any more...

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unless it's fair trade. I just came upon this link and video. I had no idea that this kind of child slavery was going on for chocolate.



Seriously, I don't know how these companies can turn a blind eye to child slaves to turn a profit by satisfying my sweet-tooth. It's disgusting.

Since 2001, chocolate consumers around the world have voiced their concern about child labor and trafficking on cocoa farms in West Africa. Despite millions of dollars and tons of public relations campaigns over the years, the worst forms of child labor and trafficking continue to occur in the cocoa supply chains of major US chocolate companies like Hershey, M&M/Mars and Nestle.

From: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/chocolate

The only thing I can think to do is to spread the word about this, and try to purchase only fair trade chocolate.

Scary stuff

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Helmet-cam footage of cyclist getting hit by a car. Direct link: http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2010/05/27/
dnt.bike.helmet.cam.cbc.html

Save the world with a better coffee cup

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I like coffee, and I feel guilty about going to the coffee shop and getting coffee in a disposable cup. Maybe you have an idea for a better cup.

I've been using a travel cup, or my ceramic cup when I walk to the coffee shop while at work.

Check this one out

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A cool stop motion video. Amazing use of light and shadows.

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