Considering that the USA World Track Cycling Team was comprised of only two males (and 4 women), and that our best chance for a rainbow colored jersey rest on the shoulders of Sarah Hammer, it came as a big surprise that Brad Huff (Slipstream-Chipotle) found the podium and opened an account that's been closed for the better part of 11 years. (Photo: Mitch Freidman/www.mitchophoto.com)
Brad Huff became the first American male to medal at the Elite Track Worlds since 1996. He placed third in the inaugural Omnium event, which is the track cycling equivalent to tracks pentathlon. It's comprised of the following events:
It looks as if our IronGal has taken over the TC blog. Be careful what you wish for, right?
One of the reasons I asked Katie to be a contributor, on her journey to complete the upcoming Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene triathlon, was because of who she is and not what she could necessarily offer to this blog. As a result, the blog-o-sphere gets to be privy to the ups, downs, and weekly (daily) grind of training. I'm truly grateful that she was willing to be a contributor, but even moreso for being able to call her a friend (you can all rip me later for the following chessy by-line).
So how many of us are headed to Idaho this summer? Katie's Karavan?
Did You Ever Know That You're My Hero... Insanity. Borderline insanity. No chaffing, just insanity.
I'm just lucky I got my butt on the bike in the p.m. Almost didn't....walked in, set my stuff down, and almost put my pj's on. Somehow, someway, I pulled on the lovely and ever so tight spandex and mounted my trusty steed.
Although I didn't get anywhere, I spun the pedals for 3 hours. And now I sit here at 11:30 pm eating some cantaloupe.
I must admit, I do look forward to nights and weekends where I'm not having to think and plan about the next workout and how to fit it all in. I can't fathom how someone who is married with children and a full time job could ever complete these training hours. Dad, You are my hero. And not once, not once, did you ever complain. You are what keeps me going dad. You are what gets me on that damn bike.
I will continue to eat now so I am completely stuffed when I climb into bed. Hmmmmm, let's see....anything good on ebay.....
Tour de Granny-fornia Though the weather in the Midwest has turned somewhat balmy, Oude Granny is nonetheless headed to the left coast. I'll be in the Bay Area for business. While I'm out there, I will attempt to tackle some of the climbs used during the Amgen Tour of California, in and around beautiful Santa Rosa. Since it'll be my first riding on an incline this year, I'm already looking forward to the bounties of good wine to numb the senses and take away some of the pain.
The Lounge If you somehow can't get out to ride this weekend, then here's another review from the ROLL Film database. This week's offering is the documentary about the great Eddy Merckx, La Course en Tete.
What Borzo (the "bike guy") says: "The beauty of this unusual film, however, is not the celebration of handsome Eddy's many victories. Rather, it is the depiction of European bicycle racing before the likes of Lance Armstrong modernized the Tour by transforming the riding into a science and the event into a commercial enterprise..."
What Strauss (the "movie guy") says: "One of the most effective moments in La Course en Tête comes as we see a rider break down in tears after losing a race. Because this is a documentary, the moment is raw and honest..." For more...
Gotta love the enthusiasm, as Katie has now fully embraced the techno-geek inside of her and seems to be an electronic updating fool. Has the global internet environment of the blog-o-sphere gone to her straw strewn head? Way to go Katie is RIGHT!!
I Could While Away the Hours...
Wow, way to go Katie. The motivation to get up and ride 3 hours...not so much there today. Awesome! So what does that mean??? I get to go home tonight and ride for 3 hours. Hey, at least there is good TV on Thursday night. I did go for a run this morning so I got my legs moving. All I know, is when I get off work...All I want to do is EAT! I brought food to eat in the car on the way home....I AM A LOSER!
As for my hair....can anyone say STRAW. Thanks to my good friend Jon...I will soon have UltraSwim to try to de-chlorinate this nasty mess. Basically, I can shape it anyway I like and it stays that way....like straw. Oh yes, it is sexy. BLAHHHHH
Thanks for all the tips on taking care of chaffing 101. I'll let you know how it goes tonight. I guess my hopes to be a butt model are out!
Random tidbit: I really like Iced Coffee. I really really like Iced Coffee that I blend in the blender.
Ahhhh yes, nothing like some good butt chaffing after a nice long bike ride!! Dang it anyways. Got some new bike shorts (which aren't cheap for those of you not in the cycling trade). Finally got to go outside and it felt great. I was all excited and went on a great ride with Erin on Saturday. Until about mile 30 when I could feel the skin begin to erode. Sure enough, I now have scars where the padding was on the shorts. Guess I can't return them either!
Other than that, still doing well. Did the 20 mile run on Sunday which felt good...but long. Now it is all taper until Boston.
Swims have been going well although, I am lapped quite often by those swimming in lanes next to me. I just don't get it. I must say, I tried that electrolyte drink...and it tastes like crappola. Maybe I will try adding some extract to that.
Carla or Len, do you think I need a new back tire, especially after having been on the trainer for a few long rides?
Okay, that's all for now, Night
Balm... Who told you to put on the balm? What our IronGirl in training is currently experiencing is known as saddle soreness. And for a lot of cyclists, its not that uncommon. However, contrary to popular belief, saddle soreness is caused by friction, not by pressure. Since Katie has been training on the bike for several weeks now and did not experience any chaffing previously, its likewise just as easy to assume that her new bike shorts are responsible, but it may be a combination of things.
Other factors that contribute to saddle soreness or crotch pain could be the saddle, adjustment to a different saddle position, and shorts with insufficient padding, or center seams that irritate that part of the anatomy. If you remember from the last Katie's Korner, she just had her bike re-fitted and adjusted.
So what's the solution? Well, while Katie adjust to her new saddle postion, she should probably use a balm (with all due respect to Cosmo Kramer's attorney, Jackie Chiles). A nice "liberal" application of anti-chafing ointment or “butt balm” to the groin area should help. There are several brands out there, and most can be found at your local bike shop. As an application (and clean up afterwards) can be messy, and since a wet lubricant, such as a balm, can be a breeding ground for germs and possibly cause further infection to the area, women should not use petroleum-based products. For longer rides, Oude Granny suggest that you carry a small tube along in your saddle pack should re-applicaton prove necessary.
Wet v. Dry This really comes down to personal preference. Most riders opt for a wet lubricant, while other riders choose dry (and less expensive) lubricants such as talc, baby powder, and corn starch. The two most popular wet lubricants, salves, are Chamois Butt'r (yes, there is a pun intended) and Bag Balm (and no guys, there isn't one intended here). Bag Balm, a Vermont original, was created to soften cow udders. For most competitors in RAAM (the annual Race Across America) Bag Balm has proven to be the common choice. Another reason most choose a balm rather than a powder is that they often contain other ingredients such as moisturizers, and healing ingredients such as Vitamin E.
Tires Gone Simple In a previous Grab Bag feature, I reviewed an alternative to using your actual racing tires on an indoor trainer. Conti's (Continental Tires) UltraSport Hometrainer tire "doesn´t experience the heat buildup of your typical road tire, nor does it suffer the tread separation that the road tire is prone to under the special loads occurring when in cycling and braking on indoor trainer or rollers." But since Katie has been using the same tires for both, getting a new back wheel really depends on the length of time the tire has been on and the amount of wear and tear. Most riders will look to put on a new set of tires every new (racing) season, as even the deflation and dry conditions of winter storage can cause cracking to the tire's rubber.
Without knowing the age of Katie's tires or seeing the wear and tear on them, its hard to say for certain if a new tire is needed. But, with the limited information she's provided, it doesn't sound as if she'll need a new back tire at all, as a couple of long indoor training sessions should not have caused significant damage.
So what should Katie do? I'm a big proponent of William of Ockham, and of Henry David Thoreau for that matter. To paraphrase his principle, Ockham's Razor, when faced with two solutions, the simplest is often the correct choice (and in Thoreau's case, "simplify, simplify..."). The solution: rotate the tires. Unless Katie was on rollers (free standing trainer), where both of her tires might (key word here, as your weight in combination with a rear drivetrain, the back tire usually experiences heavier loads than the front) have gotten equal wear and tear, moving the front tire back, and vice versa, will solve her current worries.
Track cycling's best will be in attendance on the Spanish island of Mallorca this week as the World Championships take place in the brand new Palma Arena starting Thursday (March 29th to April 1st).
Construction of the 5185 seat (capacity can be expanded for other events) arena, seemed to follow the recent trend of constructing large scale sporting venues in Europe, as it took a flurry of activity to have it complete in a timely fashion (remember the Olympics in Athens?). With 500 men working simultaneously and 50 million Euros later (90% of the bill being picked up by the government), Palma was completed with just a little over a month to spare. Did I mention construction began in November of 2005.
The velodrome, however, has taken on the look of being one of track cycling's gems (notice all the natural lighting). You can follow the action through Fixed Gear Fever's Live Feed.
Wonder What 44 Degree Banking Looks Like? Photo: Shane Stokes/Cyclingnews.com
America's hope for medals will hinge on the legs of our women, lead by World Champion Sarah Hammer(Photo: Mitch Clinton).
Team USA Women: Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif.) - Individual Pursuit, Points Race Neva Day (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) - Individual Pursuit Becky Quinn (Quakertown, Pa.) - Scratch Race Jennie Reed (Kirkland, Wash) - Sprint, Keirin
Men: Michael Creed (Colorado Springs, Colo.) - Points Race Brad Huff (Fair Grove, Mo.) - Points Race, Omnium
It's been some time since I've been on the dirt. As such, I've not only been figuratively, but also literally, out of the loop. I have been following mountain bike racing but with only a passing fancy, so I was caught off guard when I read about the 4th edition (where have I been?) of the Cape Epic. (Photo: Frank Bodenmuller/PhotoSport International)
The Cape Epic, held in South Africa, is an 8 day mountain bike stage race traversing over 880km and around 15,000 meters in elevation. Competitors compete in teams of two.
With the Cape Epic, La Ruta, the Trans Rockies, and the brand new Seven stage race, how long will it take for someone to connect the dots and have a Grand Tour of Mountain Bike Racing? Let's just hope that if it does happen, our breathren of the dirt don't face the headaches that are currently plaguing the Pro Tour.
If the Unibet.com situation wasn't already a mess, let's just say that it has officially fallen off the ugly tree and has hit every branch on the way down. The most recent news has the Amaury Sports Organization (ASO), organizers of the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix among others, denying the team entry into Paris-Roubaix.
Even though the team had taken steps to comply with a squirrely French law that does not allow teams to advertise or be sponsored by gambling sites, by deciding to ride under one of their lesser sponsors, Canyon bikes, they still weren't chosen.
Let's face it, Unibet has become a bigger pawn than Alex Karras' Mongo in Blazing Saddles. At this point, it would only be appropriate for the UCI to give back this Pro Tour team's membership fees (around 32 million Euros). Although Unibet certainly has the talent to compete with the elite of cycling, it doesn't even have the stature of a Continental team in the eyes of the three Grand Tour organizers.
The "Real" Power Brokers of Pro Cycling? Photo: AFP
Well, this marks the second entry from our IronGirl in training, Katie. Later, Oude Granny will take an in-depth look at the bike issues that Katie mentions below.
Floppy Hair THIRTEEN WEEKS LEFT!
Hey Carla! Thanks for being so patient with me. This week was actually pretty good. I was able to ride pretty comfortably at 130. 140 was pushing it and kept that pace for about 20 mins. The total ride was only about 70 mins due to getting back to work, but think I could have kept the 140 pace for the whole 30 mins....not sure how much more.
Swims felt great....best yet. However, my swim cap broke so that was a hassle! My hair was flopping all over so I went to my bag to see if I had ANYTHING I could use to tie my hair back. Much to my dismay, I had a single bobby pin...which did nothing. So I ended up using my rubber band to make a buddah like pony tail for my bangs and let the rest of my hair float free. I must have looked like a nut job!!
Then...my goggles decided to leak! Instead of stopping to tighten (as I was pretending this was the race..heee), I just decided to open my eyes when looking down and close my eyes when I took a breath. That is because, when I turned my head...the water sloshed into my eyes! Oh brother!!! hehehe.
As for my run...will wear my monitor this weekend. Hope to get a better read this weekend. Going to try and ride outside tomorrow with a friend. Hope its not too wet.
Sounds good to meet up the weekend after next for the swim! I'm pretty free that weekend.
Got my bike all fixed up and re-measured. Basically, the guy (Chris, I think) and The Bike Shop, said my bike was way too big for my stature but he would do what he could do!
A few measurements, a couple bike part removals, and $200 later...my bike was ready to go. It is amazing how much better it feels now though. I was really overextending my back and need to focus on trying to anteriorly pelvic tilt more. Hopefully this will help me stay in my tri bars more.
Next week's schedule looks good so far. I will look at it more closely on Sunday and be in touch!
Happy Weekend!!! Katie
Fitting and Physique Strangely enough, I was recently asked for some advice, by another Katie (from Michigan) on buying a triathlon bike. She is also planning to jump into the world of Ironman racing, but is biding her time until next season, 2008. Here we go again, right?
Anyway, before I even jumped into the world of tubes, material, components, etc. I made sure to suggest that she go for a proper fitting. Now if you're new to the world of cycling, and I know some of our readers are, this point can't be emphasized enough.
Fitting...measurements, why bother? For starters, a proper fitting doesn't simply mean making sure that your bits and pieces (protect those onions) have enough clearance from the top tube, like when we were fitted for our childhood bicycles. A proper fitting can help you avoid those acute pains, as well as the chronic ones which usually manifest themselves in knee, lower back, and neck pain. And like any activity you do, you're more likely to enjoy it if there isn't pain involved (unless you're a masochist, then disregard all the above).
So what does a fitting involve? A good fitting actually takes a bit of time, as a dedicated shop person will take several measurements, more than even your best dress or suit maker. A lot of these measurements are done with some interesting measuring devices, with some shops having fully computerized modules. Click here for a perfect example. With the detail involved in a bike fitting, most shops may charge you a fee for this service, which will often be waived if you purchase your steed from that shop. So make sure you ask beforehand.
Now in Katie's lastest update, she mentions that she felt "overextended" on her bike. There are a couple of possible reasons for that feeling. One is the lack of a proper fitting, and therefore, a bike that is too large for her physical frame. Another may be a result of converting a road bike into a triathlon bike with some clip-on aero bars. Your standard road bike has a "more relaxed" seat tube angle (that's the central and mostly vertical tube of your bike frame). With a triathlon, time trial specific bike, the seat tube is usually at a more aggressive angle (anywhere from 75 to 78 degrees). This angle not only helps to close down the distance between your aero bars and your seat (your aero position), but it also helps the triathlete preserve some of the leg muscles which they will use later on the run.
But there is also one more (often overlooked) reason, and one which more bicycle companies are addressing, for Katie's overextension, physique. More specifically gender differences in the size of the torso (upper body). A lot of women are described as being "all legs" for a reason, as they often have a shorter torso. Most companies have realized this subtle difference and have created Women Specific Designed (WSD) bikes with shorter top tubes.
So what can Katie do to obtain a better fit without having to buy a new bike altogether? I'd suggest a new seat tube, if it hasn't already been taken care of, to help her move forward on the bike, like this one from Profile Design (Fast Forward Seat Post - $70).
La Classicissima The Northern part of the continent has The Ronde, Roubaix and the Ardennes classics, but for the one-day hardmen it all starts in the boot, Italy, with Milan-San Remo (or Milano-San Remo, depending on how pretentious you want to be). Although MSR lacks the romanticism of the Northern Spring Classics, it definitely has some distinctive features which makes it a true classic, la classicissima.
Of the five cycling classic monuments (Flanders, Roubaix, L-B-L, and Lombardy), MSR is the longest. It is a grueling day in the saddle covering just under 300 kilometers. Like Ghent-Wevelgem, the race usually comes down to the sprint. But the tantalizing run up to the finish line in San Remo is what makes this race special, as the strongest on the day are ususally selected on the Poggio and Cipressa climbs.
But even if a rider makes the selection, another aspect that makes MSR unique is the parked cars. Yuppers, you heard it right, parked cars. You would have thought that being one of the classic giants, the parcours would be devoid of such obstacles, but on more than one occasion in recent history, someone has run into a vehicle. Then again, clearing nearly 300 kms of road would be an excruciating exercise for any group of race organizers.
If you like watching paint dry then find a place to watch the entire race, otherwise be patient and wait for the final hours. Catch it on either Cycling.tv or on Versus.
Sofa-Setter This weeks selection from the ROLL Film library is none other than Pee Wee's Big Adventure.
What Borzo (the "bike guy") said: "Well, after sitting through 90 minutes of silly shenanigans, I can now say that the only reason for a bike fan to see this movie is to warn others not to waste their time."
What Strauss (the "film guy") said: "Pee-wee loves his bike as much as any movie character has ever loved an inanimate object. For all the bicycle films we've reviewed, I believe this is the first bike to have such a distinct look that you could recognize it on the street."
Granny's Take: C'mon how can you argue with a guy who only wants his bike back? Although maybe not as comical, I've certainly done some strange things for a bike.
I've been blessed by a great family, as well as having made some excellent friends throughout my life. So when the opportunity to dote on them presents itself, I'm more than willing. The newest feature on this blog is dedicated to my friend, a girl who really kicks ass (are you somewhere out there listening Vanderkitten, let's hook the girl up!), Katie.
What we, and more specifically Katie, intend to do is to chronicle (both in words and in pictures) her journey to complete her first Ironman triathlon, the Ford Coeur d'Alene Ironman in Idaho. For those who have short memories or aren't too familiar with an Ironman, it covers the following respective distances and disciplines, 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run. Are you tired from just reading that? Oude Granny's body just got a little bit more creaky!
To date, Katie is already 10 weeks into a 23 week training schedule. A couple of weeks ago, she started working with a personal trainer, who her boss recommended (and hired!). So without further adieu, here's her latest update.
Stomach and Weather Rule All
Bachelorette party in STL this weekend.....awesome time! Yeah Spurlock....you sure know how to have a great party. Just make sure you leave those pinchers at home on wedding day!
In terms of my training....this weekend was sabotage. Let's just say, if you combine 2 ancient words of wisdom: "You are what you eat" and "you get what you ask for"....that sums up my stomach situation right now. I learned, coffee, alcohol and lack of sleep don't (or shouldn't) play a role in a triathlete's diet!
Needless to say, I had a great time...and still hit all my training landmarks.
I did a 12 mile run (at about 9 min mile pace) on a relatively hilly trail. Last week, I rode 3 1/2 hours on the trainer ( wanted to shoot myself in the face!) followed by a 30 min easy run. My legs felt great on the run...no probs there. I only missed one swim workout and one bike workout last week.
Carla, still haven't gotten my bike in as had errands to run, so plan to get it in this week. Need to talk about future plans for long rides as I will be out of town a lot. Can bring my bike but need to figure out which weekends will be long long rides. Also, I would love to talk to your friend. Any info could help. My stomach is a disaster right now....but the factors are pretty obvious!
This coming week should be tricky but do-able (is that a word???). Brandon is coming in town as he is on spring break. Wanted to switch a few things around to spend as much time with him as possible. definitely can do the 3 hours/45 min run on Saturday but will have to get up at 4am on Tuesday to do the other 3 hour bike.
The long run will be planned for Sunday. Plan to bring the bike in on Thursday.
Will really try to make an electrolyte drink.
Doing OK with HR targets....although still need to work on them on the run. My monitor seems to be all over the place in terms of readings. It is a cheap monitor so that could explain why.
Sometimes I think, if someone was watching me through a window they would think I was crazy. Last week I watched "The Holiday" (Cameron Diaz/Kate Winslet) while riding. So there I am, on the bike.....crying like a baby!! hahaha...what a tool!
As for now, off to bed.
Carla: No, I don't eat much on the run. I will try to do so this week. last week, I ate a fruit trekker bar and one fruit leather during the 3 1/2 hour run. I had a 1/2 banana with real Peanut butter before starting the ride. I actually felt pretty good. Probably could have eaten another 1/2 of a bar. Plan to order those salt tabs this week/next week.
When will this weather be ready for outdoors!!
Night all,
Katie
For family and friends who would like to create an RSS feed to follow Katie's progress, please contact me by clicking on my profile, Granny's 30, and sending me an email, and I'll help you out.
If you're waiting for the Versus Paris-Nice wrap-up on Cyclysm Sunday, then read no further.
I wasn't attempting to be prophetic when I wrote about Alberto Contador's excellent early season form a couple of days ago, but he certainly confirmed it today. Being only 6 seconds down on the GC to Davide Rebellin, Contador attacked full out on the final climb of the day and made the finale into a man-on-man ITT down the promenade in Nice.
What makes this Discovery Channel victory even more meaningful (and improbable) is the backlash Johan Bruyneel and the team have taken as a result of their hiring of Ivan Basso. Most of the riders in the peloton have been reluctant, if not down right truculent in their assistance of any Discovery team rider or Discovery team tactics.
With Contador's win, Discovery has thrown down the proverbial gauntlet. Once again, they have built up the strongest team, and may also have the strongest group of Grand Tour GC riders.
I couldn't have penned it better. There I was writing about Alberto Contador and Luis Leon Sanchez in the weekly "On Tap..." post, and one, Contador, makes today's race, while the other powers home and wins the penultimate stage of Paris-Nice, Sanchez (Photo: Graham Watson).
On the other end of the spectrum was the usual script of abandoment followed by most of the sprinters and Classics hardmen, who will be salivating over other titles in the next few weeks. But honestly, just admit to it.
Daniele Bennati's reason for abandoment...nose bleed.
Do you think he'd pull to the curb and wait for his team car for the same reason if this were Milan-San Remo? Let's hope not otherwise, his first name may take on a whole new pronunciation!
With all the madness, March Madness, occurring around me its easy to forget that Paris-Nice concludes this weekend. The Race to the Sun has always been used to officially kick off the cycling season, and with good reason. Although there are plenty of races on the calendar that precede it, the parcours are indicative of the cycling season's reawakening. From the cold and dreary Winter like conditions of Paris, the riders are ushered into Spring by the milder temperatures and sun drenched beaches of Nice. If you aren't as lucky to watch it live or through Cycling.tv, the recap of the race and its final stage can be seen on Versus. Flight of the Contador The surprise of P-N, and the early season, has been the form of Discovery Channel's Alberto Contador. Once a part of the powerful Liberty Seguros cycling team, and the other half of a young and exciting pair of Spanish riders, the other half being former teammate Luis Leon Sanchez, Contador seems to be one of Discovery's men for the future. It will definitely be interesting to see how the rise of Contador affects the development of Tom Danielson as a GC rider. Danielson, who isn't up to form this early in the season, has essentially buried himself for Contador's and Leipheimer's chances in this race. He can however, be buttressed by the fact that he has already been selected to take part of Discovery's Tour de France team.
Boob Tube For those of you who haven't been infected by cabin fever and decide that it's still too cold to ride outside this weekend, Oude Granny suggest the movie American Flyers. A full review by ROLL Film can be found here.
Borzo Says: "Tesich's love and knowledge of bicycle racing is embodied in the movie's two main characters, who are over-the-top bicycle aficionados: Marcus (Kevin Costner), a type-A sports doctor with professional racing credentials; and his underachieving younger brother, David (David Marshall Grant), a drifter who likes to bike. They dither between fraternal rivalry and brotherly love as they train for and then ride in the "Hell of the West."
Strauss Says: " The only thing preventing American Flyers from becoming a total disaster is the dedicated effort of the cast to make an actual movie out of this jumble."
Granny's Take: Although I would best describe this film as campy, several things leap out at me. For those too young to remember, the race in the movie provides you a glimpse of what was once the Red Zinger/Coors Classic. It also shows some beautiful scenery of the Colorado Monument in Grand Junction, CO. In addition, although her acting skills aren't as polished as when she would later run around with David Hasselhoff on Baywatch, Alexandra Paul (Stephanie Holden on Baywatch) certainly holds her own in this film. Plus her presence seems to make the premise of the film somewhat more credible (even though she plays the love interest and not the athlete), as she ended up being quite the triathlete, completing Ironman Hawaii in the late 90's.
In the past couple of months, Oude Granny has turned into quite the mobile blogging fool, a real roving reporter of the blog-o-sphere. So where am I blogging (reporting) from today?
Calvin College. In beautifully, cloudy, Grand Rapids, MI.
Ah, who picked this assignment???
Well, I'm here for some real-life business, you know the job that actually pays the bills. As I was driving in from Ann Arbor, I couldn't help but reminisce about a past life, one in which I found a true love, Ada Bike Shop.
So when I got close to my exit off of I-96, 28th St SE, where I needed to be, it didn't take much of the turn of the wheel, the steering kind, in the opposite direction to get to where I wanted to be, on Thornapple River Dr. headed up to Ada. I genuinely got "bike geeked out," knowing that I was just a few miles from one of my favorite bike shops.
So what you may ask is so special about this shop in particular? Well, I've kind of made it a habit to go into a bike shop in almost every town I've ever visited, even when I was in Sorrento, Italy on vacation, and of all those shops Ada Bike Shop (at least after a lot of the recent renovations) resembles the kind of shop I wouldn't mind opening one day.
Their motto, "making the best bikes better," is just part of Jim Ippel's philosophy of treating the customer as he would want to be treated. It's amazing how that little personal touch can make all the difference. So whether you want to go in and hang out in the lounge area to just talk "shop," bikes in this case, or feel confident that your bike will get fixed to your liking by one of the wrenches (yes, that's correct you Neanderthal, sexist cyclist, that's a female wrench back there putting your bike together, Rachel Ippel) its worth the trip to this small town just east of Grand Rapids.
In what may go down as one of few cycling grassroots (and I use that term facetiously) efforts, the Tour of Georgia Board of Directors (Georgia Partnership of Economic Development), has decided to run this year's race despite their inability to secure a main sponsor. Normally, a race that still lacked significant financial backing, a reported million dollars, weeks and even days before its start would be canceled. But apparently, the American cycling community has spoken (without any real protest, or even a sit down). In one muted voice of spandexed solidarity, we've managed to convince the State of Georgia, or at least their tourism board, that our interest hasn't waned since Lance left, and that we may still possibly be growing as a fan base.
In the end, history will bare out the facts, and we only have to wait until next year when the Tour de Georgia may be just that, history.
Tour of Georgia Schedule: Stage 1: Monday, April 16 - Peachtree City to Macon Stage 2: Tuesday, April 17 - Thomaston to Rome Stage 3: Wednesday, April 18 - Rome to Chattanooga, Tennessee Stage 4: Thursday, April 19 - Chickamauga/Walker County to Lookout Mountain (Individual Time Trial) Stage 5: Friday, April 20 - Dalton to Brasstown Bald Mountain/Towns County Stage 6: Saturday, April 21 - Lake Lanier Islands/Hall County to Stone Mountain Park/Dekalb Country Stage 7: Sunday, April 22 - Atlanta (circuit race)
"What is it in us that seeks the truth? Is it our minds or is it our hearts?"
- Jake Brigance - A Time to Kill
From my "On Tap" post (a new weekly blog occurence, providing some sort of guide to the weekend), I was in attendance for the March 10th Floyd Fairness Fund fundraiser in Wilmette, IL. (Incidentally, if your directions to Central Ave. involve going north on Green Bay Rd., please be advised that Evanston has a Central St. just a couple of blocks south of Central Ave. in Wilmette). The event was held at the Wilmette Theatre (see inset), a historic theatre with two 200 seat screening rooms, which didn't really strike me as unusual until my friend with whom I share some interesting Chicago coincidentals, Betsy, asked "why's a fundraiser being held at a movie theatre?"
Although I had gone to the Floyd Fairness Fund website numerous times and downloaded Dr. Arnie Baker's presentation and other materials, the barnstorming nature of these fundraisers went completely unnoticed. It wasn't until later, while perusing the internet, that I found out that these events have been held in all sorts of venues, like bars and restaurants, and bike shops (as T-o-03 mentions below), all over the country. When I finally entered the room and saw Dr. Baker's Powerpoint presentation cued up for viewing, it only made sense to hold the fundraiser in a theatre.
There were approximately 140-160 people in attendance. During a question and answer period of the scheduled 3 hour event, I found out that some notables of the blog-o-sphere were present. One such gentleman was James, Steroid Nation, who not only has a complete breakdown of the event, but also has video of it. So rather than belabor a point, I'll pull a George Michaels here and suggest that we all "go to the video tape." (Another great recap of the event can be found on Rant Your Head Off)
Admittedly, I went to the event more as a fan rather than a skeptic. Most of the materials presented, I had already dissected and come to my own conclusions. But as I sat there drinking my Pride & Joy - Three Floyds' Mild Ale (yes, some of these fundraisers have alcohol present), the above quote from John Grisham's novel came to mind. What truth or what type of truth was I searching for that possessed me to drive four and a half hours from Ann Arbor, MI? Was I searching for more than simple validation, like the gentleman sitting next to me, who stood up and prompted his cycling hero to, "tell me that you haven't taken anything, and it'll be good enough for me...then I can look my kids in the face and tell them the same?"
What was my mind telling me and/or what was my heart telling me?
The Mind For those of you who don't know me, I'm a person that can analyze to the point of paralysis. I like to look at things from a variety of viewpoints. Does that mean that I'm always right? All it says is that if you're so inclined to ask for my opinion, you'll usually receive something back that's been really well thought out. So what does my mind tell me about Floyd's case? From what I've read from the disclosed documents of the case and his Wiki Defense, there is more empirical data suggesting his innocence than there is to the contrary.
But, having spoken to relatives and friends in the legal profession, its also become readily apparent that these tribunal type arbitration hearings aren't in the same vicinity of anything that we, the non-legal types, know of jurisprudence. If those adjudicating his case aren't open to his defense, then it won't make a bit of difference come May 14th (when Landis' public hearing is scheduled).
The Heart I met Floyd once before, last year in Chicago, while he was helping Robbie Ventura open up a north of downtown location of VisionQuest Coaching services. I don't claim to have any extraordinary insight into the man other than what I've read about him, and from these appearances and the meet-and-greet afterwards. So what makes me believe that Floyd Landis' circumstances, and for that matter, Floyd, are any different from those cyclists accused of doping in the past?
Floyd, in his demeanor, in his words, and in his actions seems genuine, from the heart. He has been unwavering in his denial and has been forthcoming and transparent in his defense strategy, "I've got nothing to hide." It also doesn't hurt that his foil in this matter, WADA Director, Dick Pound, seems more interested in the prosecution than in the truth.
So what is it in you that seeks the truth...your mind or your heart? In this case, both seem to point to the same thing.
Perhaps after the dropping of the Operacion Puerto case and the Landis hearing, cycling may finally get a chance to heal.
Other tidbits from the fundraiser: - The May 14th hearing is public, so those of you in the area can attend.
- Contrary to popular, and somewhat legendary, belief, Floyd did not talk with Eddy Merckx to strategize the night before the famous Stage 17 (although he did talk to him several times during the Tour).
- Floyd has spoken to former teammates, like LA and Tyler, who offered their assistance, but he hasn't taken them up on their offer.
- He seems healthy after his hip surgery; no limping. He is still training, but doesn't expect to race at all this year.
- Dr. Baker's online presentation is only a small tidbit of information being used for Floyd's defense. Baker suggested that there is a lot more to be brought up.
- Is the Floyd Fairness Fund strategy working? Time and the hearings will bear that out, but as of today, a Google search of the same reveals 232,ooo results. It seems that some people are talking, writing, about it.
- Another great blog that has encapsulated all of the happenings on Floyd since his "positive" finding, is Trust But Verify (by sometime Triple Crankset visitor Dave Brower).
So the race calendar says that Paris-Nice, the Race to the Sun, is starting this weekend. The race marks the official start of the 2007 edition of the ProTour. Elsewhere, the Vuelta a Murcia and the Trust House Womens' Tour of New Zealand both come to a conclusion on Sunday.
But since my preference is toward the Classics, I've still got a little time before the giants like The Ronde and Roubaix kick off. So what's Granny gonna do in the interim? Well I'll definitely pay some attention to P-N, but I'm also gonna check out the Floyd Fairness Fund fundraiser in Wilmette, IL. Maybe I'll see some of you there (If you have any questions you want me to ask, drop me a line).
I have to say that after the kudos T-o-03 heaped on Oude Granny the day before, I was acutally at a loss for some material. Then I ran across this from Chris Selden at Pezcylingnews.com. Mind you, its only a snippet of the Euro Trash Thursday column regarding the Unibet.com mess (please click on the link provided as he does make some good points about this issue), but the last line in this excerpt invoked a guttural reaction. Search over, mind going...
"The ASO don’t seem to like Unibet because they are promoting an illegal business in France (gambling) – but is that really the issue? What about when they were known as MrBookmaker.com a couple of years ago? I saw that team race in France with my own eyes and not a word was spoken, despite the fact that their sponsor was a gambling organization. So what’s changed? Not much as far as I can tell, besides the fact that the Grand Tour Organizers were sick of the UCI telling them what to do and when. To this I can sympathise with the organizers – why shouldn’t they be able to invite who they want to their races?"
Whether the creation of the ProTour has actually succeeded is all its facets is another matter all together, and one which I won't discuss here because of it dauntingness. But one of the reasons for its inception was to insure that the best competition was at the grandest races. Listen, I'm all for nationalistic pride, but when you begin to exclude teams that have earned the right (by being competitive and winning races throughout the season) to participate in a race, then I think that race (and its fans) lose something greater. Take for instance the insistence of the Tour de France (the Grand Boucle!), pre-ProTour, to take as many French teams possible while excluding many of the top teams. Huh? What? When did that happen? How dare they?
Oude Granny doesn't even have to step into his Wayback Machine to show you why letting organizers invite who they want to their races isn't exactly the best things. Let's go back to the selection of the Tour de France teams in 2001. That year, Jean Marie LeBlanc actually made room for an extra 21st team, but choosing 5 wild card teams. So who did they choose?
Of the 5 chosen, they picked 2 French teams. Well Granny, that doesn't sound like squat!!
Let me break it down a bit. Of the 21 teams invited to the Tour that year, 8 were French teams, 5 of which were Division 2 teams. And of those 5 Division 2 teams, 2 were the wild card selections. Does that sound like a very competitive field??? And how do you select any Division 2 team over a more qualified Division 1 team?
Some of the more qualified teams left out that year were Mercury-Viatel and Team Coast. Mercury-Viatel could have been the second American based team to compete in the Tour, alongside Lance Armstrong's powerful US Postal squad. Instead, Mercury-Viatel, even with all the support Greg Lemond provided, went bankrupt after that season. Perhaps, if they were allowed to participate in that Tour, their sponsors would have bought into cycling and a young man living in San Diego at the time, Floyd Landis, would have ridden his first Tour.
As far as Team Coast, their exclusion meant that a two-time Vuelta winner and World Champion in Alex Zulle wasn't allowed to compete. Now flash forward 2 years from that somber moment, to a happier one, when Team Coast was finally allowed in to the Tour. How did they end up doing after being excluded year after year? Well, Team Coast actually went the way of Mercury-Viatel midseason, pulling their sponsorship. But the team stayed together and kept their Tour spot and re-emerged as Team Bianchi. The same Team Bianchi, with Jan Ullrich. And we all know what an exciting and memorable Tour that ended up being! It was the most competitive in ages, hands down.
Could you imagine what the 2001 Tour would have been like, if teams like Saeco (with Mario Cipollini), Mercury-Viatel, Coast, or Mercatone Uno (with Il Pirata) were chosen instead of Big Mat, Bonjour, Jean Delatour, or Ag2R-Prevoyance (all Division 2 French teams)?
But wait, its their race and they should be able to invite who they want.
There's an inside joke in that headline, somewhere. But, Oude Granny thought it would be fun to create some web banners for those of you out there who are fans or readers of this blog and want to share it with others on your own website, blog, or myspace site. The TC has three options. Simply click on Granny's Profile and send an email to request the HTML code for a specific banner. Once you get the code, just paste it into your template, wherever you deem appropriate.
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Links Update On the right navigation bar of the TC blog, you'll find some new and updated links (some were deleted, dead links, so if your favorite was one that is now gone, please find a new link and email it to me and I'll be glad to put it up). Plus, you'll also find a new category of links, TSTWKT. Taken from Dan Coyle's book Lance Armstrong's War, it was the way LA often referred to the new technologies, gadgets, etc. that his sponsors would come up with for his next Tour de France, "the shit that will kill them!" In this category you'll find some of our favorite things (not necessarily wrapped up in brown paper and tied up with string), like Independent Fabrication bikes, or a link to where you can find the best bike lubricant, Boeshield T9.
Haven't heard of the latter? Well its about time you did, as some of my friends can attest, its simply the best. The lubricant comes as a liquid or an aerosol, formulated by Boeing for use on small parts for their large airplanes. Oude Granny, and a bunch of wrenches, swear by it!
I have to keep reminding myself, cycling isn't really a sport...at least to Americans.
Unfortunately, cycling is only as popular as the next great American cyclist. It will remain a fringe sport just like soccer and tennis, or until the next Lance Armstrong or Greg Lemond arises, where it will once again yo-yo to popularity. Does that sound cynical enough for you? Or is Oude Granny just being realistic?
Last week, the news came out that the Tour of Georgia was having difficulties securing a main sponsor. After 5 very successful years, there is the possibility that the race that brought us some memorable one on one battles up Brasstown Bald could go the way of the Red Zinger/Coors Classic. What's even more upsetting is that this news came on the heels of Discovery Channel ending their sponsorship, after this season, of America's only ProTour Cycling team. So even though there seems to be more cyclists and fans of cycling than in recent memory, US corporations still haven't bought into the overall product, only the personalities.
Photo: Courtesy of Emily K
How long will it be when a scene like this, at the final stage of the Tour of California, is just another memory of a race gone by, "hey remember when California had a tour," or "hey why doesn't a state like Colorado have a race? It seems like the perfect place with all the cyclists and the beautiful scenery and the great climbs?" Been there, GONE that!
Jobbed Where in the world could you pay somewhere in the neighborhood of 32 million Euros in membership fees and still not be allowed into a club? How about when joining the ProTour. Unibet.com and Astana are doing just that after the latest deal between the UCI and the lead organizations of the three Grand Tours. A deal which could only be described as a bandage on a massive hemorrhage. In order to supposedly "save the cycling season," Unibet.com and Astana will be allowed to race as ProTour teams, but will not given automatic berths into the three Grand Tours (or any of the other races under the jurisdiction of the three governing bodies, the ASO, RCS, and Unipublic) like the other 18 ProTour teams. Huh? At least we now know who is really running professional cycling. I hope UCI President, Pat McQuaid, at least asked for a reach around? "L-UCI, You Got Some "Splainin' To Do!"
Pipped Honestly, it could have easily been the most overused headline since Britney Shears, as Filippo Pozzato (inset, photo: AFP) claimed the victory in the Omloop Het Volk. It was almost a carbon copy of his victory in Milan-San Remo; biding his time and then powering past the would be victors. With the way he was able to get up and over the cobbles, Pippo has to be considered a major factor in the Northern Classics from here on out.
Two things leapt out at me during the finale. It was interesting to see the two former Quick-Step lieutenants in Pippo and Nick Nuyens in the final kilometers with their former leader, Tom Boonen, and why and how in the wide, wide, world of sports do riders who "make" the race often end up losing it. Stuart O'Grady (CSC) and Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) looked as if their efforts would be rewarded, but neither wanted to relinquish their wheel to the other. Instead, both lost out with Flecha at least salvaging a podium spot.
Revenge Because of the way Het Volk and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne are scheduled, the latter is often deemed "The Revenge," for those riders and teams that missed out on the selection the day before. K-B-K ended up being just that for Tom Boonen( inset, photo: Luc Claessen/www.ctm-images.com/), whose Quick-Step team devoured the early breaks and set him up for an easy sprint victory. How easy you may ask? The Tornado's new lead-out man in Geert Steegmans had to free wheel in order to slow down enough, otherwise he might have won it himself.
One outstanding result on the day was the ninth placed showing by Tyler Farrar (Cofidis). Tabbed by some to be the next George Hincapie, the Washington state born Farrar broke his clavicle early last season, his first with the French outfit. Subsequently, he had an up and down year. You may remember Farrar when he was with Health Net-Maxxis, winning the US Pro Criterium in Downers Grove, IL in 2005.
NAHBS Because we're a blog and not part of the press, we've often got to rely on other bicycle news outfits for our material. In the case of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, it might be well worth our time to somehow cover these shows firsthand. The offering below from Independent Fabrication simply blew me away.
What did I say earlier in regard to these handmade beauties, something about function meeting form, and form paralleling art ? The picture says it all!
For those who can't stand watching cycling (even with the start of the Classics season) on television, here are some other bicycle related functions that you can partake in this weekend.
Handmade For those in the cycling industry, the annual Interbike trade show is the mother of all things cycling and cycling related. But, with all due respect to those who have particpated or gone to Interbike, there's another show out there for you hardcore cyclo-philes, the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (San Jose, March 2nd -4th). It's a show where function meets form, and where form at times parallels art. The show currently is represented by 4 countries and employs some of the greatest bike crafters (big and small) like Dario Pegoretti, Seven Cycles, and Independent Fabrication.
Couch and Popcorn, or On The Roleurs If you live in the northern part of North America and aren't exactly as motivated as your neighborhood Belgian counterpart, let me introduce you to ROLL Film. I discovered their website as part of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (ROLL Film can also be found as part of the IMDB). All the films that Greg Borzo (The Bicycle Guy) and Brad Strauss (The Movie Guy; leave it to a pair from Chicago to review films) review all have some sort of relation to bicycles. So if you need a break from your saddle and just want to park yourself on the sofa, or if you've decided to hop on the rollers/trainer and don't want to watch your usual training DVD, then here's the first of a series of recurring post about movies with bikes in them. Without further adieu...
"2 Seconds is bike heaven, or at least bike church. Reverence for bicycling permeates this film. Laurie, the heroine who gives up bike racing and finds refuge in being a bike messenger, loves to ride so much she often ends up in the countryside between deliveries, oblivious to her whereabouts. And when she gets home after a long day of delivering packages, she washes down her bike before attending to her own aches and pains. "I just want to ride," she wails at one point.
And ride she does, as you will want to while watching this film. Never has a movie featured more time in the saddle or more beautifully photographed bike riding scenes—from mountain trails, to country lanes, to city streets..." - more
At The Start - Het Volk Photo: Jeff Jones/Cyclingnews.com
For Oude Granny this weekend is truly a case of saving the best for last! What do I mean by that statement?
Of all the countries that have races scheduled, Belgium is the last to start its season. And that means the start of the Classics season. The season of the hardmen of cycling. The season of cool temperatures, mud, and possibly snow or rain or a mixture of both. The season of yellow Flandarian flags emblazoned with their lion, of men jammed in pubs engrossed in their Stellas, Westmalles, Piraats, Duvels, or Chimays, and of passionate people lining cobbled and tree lined roads.
Forget the three week Grand Tours for a moment, because these are the roads that can make mere mortals into cycling legends in just a day's effort. And what an effort those usually are!
This weekend the madness begins with the semi-Classics, Omloop Het Volk (Saturday) and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (K-B-K, Sunday). These two great races are a precursor to the great Spring Classics like the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix, as many of the same parcours are used in these races.
Look for a Belgian shootout in both races as all (PVP, Boonen, Devolder, Nuyens, Eeckhout, Gilbert, and Hoste) will be highly motivated. From the non-Belgian contingent, look for Juan Antonio Flecha, Max van Heeswijk (Rabobank), Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas), Jimmy Casper, and Baden Cooke (Unibet.com).
Smiles Everyone, Smiles Photo: John Flynn - Cyclingnews.com
Nicole Cooke reaffirmed her position as the #1 ranked women's cyclist by winning the Geelong Women's Tour down under. This may sound like a cliche, but the Welsh star was certainly the class of the field as she held off Larissa Kleinmann from Germany (more on Larissa later) and the entire T-Mobile Women's Team (more on them later, as well). The USA was well represented by teammates, Dotsie Bausch and Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home) who each won a stage, while both finishing in the top 10. Bausch ran into some misfortune, missing her opportunity to finish on the podium, or even win, as she was caught behind a crash in the final stage. Before the crash, she was well placed at merely 8 seconds back of Cooke and 1 second back of Kleinmann. Next up for the women, the Geelong World Cup.
Not only is Britain's Chris Hoy a beast physically, but he's also one on the pine. Recently at the Manchester Velodrome (Track World Cup #4), Hoy was nearly perfect losing only once in the sprints, and totally dominating the Keirin event. For those unfamiliar with the Keirin, its a motorpaced (see photo below) event of 2000m that originated in Japan. The motorbike, or derny, gradually increases its pace from 25km to around 45km, before pulling off in the final lap.
Usually, this event attracts the most gambling and the best riders are often paid handsomely. So how much did Hoy take away from the International Keirin at Manchester? How about 10,000 Euros! Yeah, Baby!
I'm a little tardy with these comments, but I thought the above image could stand on its own merits (since it's officially the beginning of March). Given the competitors in the sprint above, this had to be one of Mario "Il Re Leone" Cipollini's easier victories.
But the image also got me to thinking about not only who the best sprinter was/is but also what team had the best lead out train to deliver the package?
Oude Granny wasn't even born yet to see what Alfredo Binda accomplished in his lifetime at the Giro, or was way too young to remember the greatness of Freddy Maertens. But I did see and remember Sean Kelly. Which brings up another point, what truly classifies a person as a sprinter, especially since most, back-in-the-day, never really specialized.
So as far as "true" sprint specialists, its hard to argue with a Mario Cipollini in his prime. His constant accelerations in the stretch often left his competitors unable to kick past him when he finally did decide to make for the line.
But because his sprinting style required such a concerted effort by his lead out train, its easy to argue for someone like Robbie McEwen, Tom Boonen, Oscar Freire, Thor Hushovd, Baden Cooke, or Eric Zabel well before another Cipollini-like sprinter in Alessandro Pettachi (for all his dominance in the Giro, he's had trouble containing a parasitic (following or jumping into Ale-Jet's old Fassa Bortolo lead out train) sprinter like McEwen).
Does it all come down then to a matter of taste or talent? For sheer guts, McEwen's your choice. For sheer top-end speed its hard to look past Ale-Jet or the Tornado. For Oude Granny, I've always been partial to those who could contest a sprint after getting up and over the big bumps or rollers, like an Alejandro Valverde.
But whatever your flavor, it's truly a magnificent sight to see a sprint train fly past the barriers close to the finish line launching their leader or to see a McEwen or Freire jump on various wheels before spotting the perfect hole to squeeze through before the swarm closes it. One thing is for certain, the finishes have gotten more exciting (and dangerous) with the growing amount of people specializing and capable of contesting for a win.
Considering that the USA World Track Cycling Team was comprised of only two males (and 4 women), and that our best chance for a rainbow colored jersey rest on the shoulders of Sarah Hammer, it came as a big surprise that Brad Huff (Slipstream-Chipotle) found the podium and opened an account that's been closed for the better part of 11 years. (Photo: Mitch Freidman/www.mitchophoto.com)
