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…must come to an end, at least that’s how the saying goes. For five years Team CSC has gone from a second rate team to one of the most successful teams in the pro peloton. What has always made CSC so remarkable was not that they had a few super stars, but that every rider was really above average. As a team they were much more than the individual riders. So it seems unbelievable that after years of a very good winning formula, the team is starting to dissolve. (more…)

So the Chinese are making a big stink because a few of our trackies showed up to Beijing wearing masks. Above is Olympian Bobby Lea wearing one. What the Chinese don’t realize is that we wear these masks all the time, it’s just how American cyclists like to roll. Here’s a picture of me with Bobby Lea taken a few months ago.

See? What’s the big deal? We like wearing the masks cause it makes us look PRO. Look China, this isn’t an insult, it’s actually a compliment. We’re showing up with our game face(mask) on.

28-Jul-2008: It was a beautiful day in Paris on Sunday, and a fitting end of the Tour for Team CSC-Saxo Bank, whose incredible teamwork all three weeks in France culminated not only in the overall victory for Carlos Sastre, but also the white jersey for Andy Schleck and the overall Team Classification victory.

I’ve waited seven years for CSC to win the TdF. It was incredible to watch the well timed teamwork of CSC methodically take over the front of the peloton and execute their tactics. I’m not a big sports fan, and I never really understood what it’s like to watch your favorite team go to the Superbowl or the World Series until now. In previous years CSC never had any real chance of winning the TdF, so I never really took much interest. I always rooted for Cancellara in the TT and hoped Voigt would do an awesome breakaway. This year was agonizing watching how close the final TT was on stage 20. CSC could have easily lost all three awards in a single day, and on paper they were set to lose the yellow jersey. All the press said Sastre was going to lose that day, and the thought of coming this close and blowing was almost too much for me to watch. But the best wins are always the ones that come from behind and defy the odds.

I’m still not used to calling them team CSC Saxobank, but I’m a dedicated enough of a fan to keep trying. It was amazing watching CSC dominate Stage 10 of the TdF. The tactics were perfect as Cancellara put the pressure on in the beginning and Gustov and Voigt crushed the will of the peloton up the Tourmalet. In fact Voigt single handedly removed Valverde and Cunego out of Tour contention, proving once again that he has the more moxy than any other cyclist in the field. A perfect day would have ended with Schleck finishing first and in yellow, but at least you stayed on your bike Frank. And in all fairness that’s all I asked for. Stage 11 was even more amazing as Arvesen managed to win the stage by a few centimeters. When I heard he was in a break with Ballan and Pozzato, I thought he had no chance in the final sprint. Whether it was legs, brains, or luck, Arvesen pulled a much deserved win even though he was in the lead for the sprint. I figured he’d blow it like the 2006 Paris-Tours, but it looks like he’s getting smarter with age. Bravo CSC Saxobank! Now all I need is Frank in yellow and Voigt in an all day breakaway win.

I saw this ad for the first time while watching this year’s TdF coverage. As soon as it finished I just sat on the couch a little stunned. Each time I watch it, I get a little emotional. I’ve never seen anyone perfectly show what it is I love about bikes so much until I saw this ad. Maybe it’s because everything they show is a part of my life. I think of the long solo training rides, or the casual errands K and I run on our bikes on the weekends. I think of the great stories my friends and I have that involve epic rides. I think of the daily grind of commuting on a bike, and even at it’s worst, how much better it is than being in a car. I think of my first time riding my bike and the freedom it gave me. Bicycles make us better people and a better society. Thanks Trek for pointing that out. I believe too.

Memo to Frank Schleck. I’m not asking much for this year’s TdF. I’m not asking for another Alpe D’Huez win, or a podium finish. All I’m asking is that you stay on your bike. I simply can’t handle another race where you’re going to do well and then you blow it by falling off your bike for no real reason. Missing the final sprint at last year’s Giro Di Lombardia was bad, blowing this year’s Tour de Suisse was even worse. You already caused a crash in Stage 2’s feed zone. Get it together Frank, Cancellara can’t win everything for the team. If you don’t I’ll have to switch my Luxembourger loyalty to Kim Kirchen.

Bad timing or judgement led me to ride Skyline Drive one week after doing the 5 Boro Tour. Planning Skyline Drive was far more stressful than planning the 5 Boro. I went with two other riders and we split the ride into two days. The first day we started at the north entrance at Dickey Ridge Visitor’s Center. This knocked off about five miles and 1000ft of climbing. The plan was to drive down from PA to Shenandoah and ride 37 miles from Dickey Ridge to Skyland Lodge. The next morning we would ride 65 miles from Skyland to Rockfish Gap and drive home. We were supported with a driver and sag car if needed. This turned out to be very necessary for us. Day one went fine and we completed the 37 miles and the majority of the climbing that day. The next day was supposed to be 65 miles. We never made through the next day because a heavy fog rolled in and a park ranger forced us off the road. It was disappointing because we certainly had the legs to finish the ride, it was just bad luck. In hindsight it would have been very difficult to complete the ride in the fog, so we really didn’t have a choice. Similar to the 5 Boro Tour there was very little I could find online to help us prepare for this ride, so here’s the advice I’d like to share with the world.

K and I did the NYC 5 Boro Tour this year, and though we were glad we did it, it was a mixed experience. First if you don’t live in a big city like we do, riding in one is very stressful. Even with the roads closed you have to constantly be on the look out for pedestrians, street lights, etc. Before going I had a hard time finding any kind of online advice on the 5BT, so here are lessons I learned

So Campagnolo announced and 11 speed rear cassette that’s going to be part of their new Super Record group. As cool as it is to see the Super Record name revived, every bike mechanic in the world probably groaned to hear that another cog was being added. Campy claims they can do this with current indexing distances and wheel dish as their 10 speed system. I have no idea how this is possible. It’s like trying to squeeze that imaginary fifth passenger into a toyota yaris. Sure it’s “possible” but how well does it work. 11 speed makes sense for pros who need an 11T-28T range to climb the Alps by day and then have their bikes tuned by professional mechanics by night.

With the nice weather and high gas prices, I’ve had more friends ask me to look at their bikes to get them back on the road. (more…)

Many of you that follow bicycles will know that Sheldon Brown passed away on Sunday February 3, 2008. I’ve quoted him many times on this blog, and when anyone asks me about cycling advice, I almost always end up pointing them to an article Sheldon wrote. Most of my knowledge about bicycle compatibility, maintenance, and history comes from hours of reading Sheldon’s articles and usenet chatter. I am glad his legacy lives on in the body of knowledge that exists online and at Harris Cyclery. When I built up my fixed/free single speed about four years ago, I called up Harris Cyclery and got the legend himself on the phone. I was amazed that he could recall the rear axle spacing and seatpost diameter of my Bridgestone MB-3 from memory. He worked out my appropriate gear ratios on his slide rule and told me what rear cog sizes I should use with the brilliant White Industries eccentric ENO hub (another discovery via Brown).

I feel bicycling is facing a problem of homogenization. Components now only work with other components made by the same company. Everything is sold in kits and packages. Everything is the same. Everything is made to be disposable or abandoned in a year or two. The industry only caters to racers now, and oddball equipment that doesn’t enhance speed or is more than two years old is seen as passé. Sheldon was the great champion of the odd and fantastic in cycling. My fear is that without him, who will let the public know about great finds like Shlumpf’s planetary bottom bracket, the ENO eccentric hub, or the MKS detachable pedal? I’m afraid that with Sheldon gone, it’s up to the rest of to keep bicycling fun and diverse.