My Lantern Rouge

We moved!

2011-08-16T22:09:00.001-04:00

We moved -- check out www.the-paceline.com.

June 14

2011-06-14T20:19:00.000-04:00

I've scrubbed my hands three times in fifteen minutes under some scalding water, but the grease still sticks in the creases on their backs, there's some around my fingernails, the bit of missing skin on my ring finger's knuckle is bordered grimy black. My hands are dried out from the dish soap and the cloth we use to wipe the plates is stained. I'll have to put it in the hamper.

At least the bike is clean. Two hours in a musty basement working at my dim bike stand (remember: 100 watt bulbs next time I'm at the hardware store) always leaves the hands black and smelling acrid-sweet -- chain lube, grease, solvent and grode -- miles worth. All those petroleum distillates are known in the state of California to cause cancer. I lead an active lifestyle, I'll be fine.

I take a drag from my bottle, half full with diluted Gatorade (my Ambien). Tomorrow will be warm and there's no feed. I have to hydrate.

I'm reminded of food and planning the pre-dawn breakfast. I lay out a bowl, spoon and the box of frosted mini-wheats. Easy on my nervous knotted stomach. There's a bunch of peanut butter and a scrape of strawberry jelly -- it will be enough. Full loaf of whole wheat.

There were times, at the cheap motels mainly, that I wished I brought my own peanut butter, jelly and bread. The continental breakfasts were always unsatisfying -- mealy Red Delicious, dry bagels, watery orange juice -- gave me gas. It was a learning experience, those first few races.

The bike's leaned against the wall. I stop and stare for a moment. I really love this machine. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Helmet's around the stem, draped over the bars, my shoes beneath the bottom bracket, race-day socks stuffed into each. I never forget my socks.

I forgot my socks at a Tuesday night world championship four years ago. I drove there in sandals. My cycling shoes weren't so comfortable in the humidity and my skinny pale ankles looked even skinnier. I had good legs, but felt like I never did any of it before. I finished mid-pack with blisters. I always finish mid-pack.

The empty bottle cages remind me to get back to my food. Two scoops of powdered drink mix into each bottle (my secret) and fill them with water. I shake them and put them in the cages. I never forget my bottles. I've never forgotten my bottles.

Bibs and jersey are clean? Smell them. They're clean. I roll the two together and put them in my bag. I roll up a small brown towel and put it in too.

I didn't always bring a towel with me. I learned quick, though -- those flaming hot mid-summer sweat-fests, all I had was my tee shirt I drove over in, no sense in getting that all full of road dust and sweat. I wipe my legs, arms, back, neck, face and head -- the skin feels cool and hot from the quick-to-evaporate perspiration that the towel couldn't soak up. I feel like I've done something. I feel the sun and the work and the inevitable scrape or bruise. I feel it all -- there in the front seat of my cheap sub-compact -- I feel my love for the sport. The air is still and heavy, so I roll down the windows. Summer wind.

The helmet's on the handlebars. I stare at the bike once more -- I'm doing it again... The ogle. It never ceases to amaze me. I really like my bike.

Everything is set. License in the wallet. Cash. Directions on sticky notes (I paste them on the center of my steering wheel -- no fumbling). Breakfast. Bottles. Bag. Bike. I'm good to go. Time for sleep.

A Bicycle Christening

2011-01-22T15:04:00.005-05:00

The new (used) frame + fork is christened.

20 degrees + slush + 10000000000lbs of road salt = way better than the trainer.

Is it a major sacrilege to ride an ex-team frame from a team I could never actually ride for? Whatever the case, this thing was a major bargain! (Parts from the decidedly less racey Ibis.)

Di2 Inventiveness

2011-01-20T15:43:00.004-05:00

You've probably seen this before. But it's cool and I just noticed it.

Is that a Di2 button on the inside of the right handlebar drop? If so, it's a great position for a sprinter -- just a tap with the thumb and drop a few gears. Cool!

(In my off-season malaise I've forgotten what a bad-ass Cav is.)

UPDATE: According to a VeloNews article posted after this entry, this is, indeed, the new Di2 "Sprint Shifter".

My Crossresults.com Discovery

2011-01-14T11:24:00.006-05:00

My addiction to crossresults.com has waned in the last few weeks. But I still find myself stalking racers I don't know (personally, of course).

(For those of you not in the know, Crossresults is the source for anything and everything cyclocross result oriented. Metrics out the whazoo! Too much fun!)

Today I found this:

Notice the "Top Pimps" and "Top Hos" titles in place of the proper "Top Nemeses" and "Top Victims" titles (see below).

Such titling appears random. I've only encountered it once before but forgot to snatch a screenshot. Anyway, the moment is preserved forever on this blog.

Marketing Hype or the Beloved "Morton"

2011-01-11T22:27:00.007-05:00

The Beloved Morton -- $4,195.00

Why would I pay 4k+ for a glorified lugged Raleigh? I wouldn't.

The entire parts spec of the Beloved Morton belies the bicycle's absurd $4,195.00 price tag.

Nothing at this price should have $20.00 Tektro brakes. Where are those American made Paul touring cantis? (shhh...they're on the $5,195.00 Rapha Everyday)

Let's break it down (these are RETAIL prices):

Bar Tape: Brooks Leather -- $60.00
Brake Levers: Tektro Inverse -- $30.00
Brakes: Tektro CR-720 -- $40.00 (for two)
Crankset: Sugino RD-2 -- $120.00 (with a decent ring)
Bottom Bracket: IRD -- $30.00
Chain: SRAM -- $13.00 (assuming PC-1)
Fenders: Honjo Smooth -- $100.00
Handlebar: Nitto Albatross -- $53.00 (CroMo)
Pedals: MKS Sylvan Touring -- $25.00 (not even sealed bearings!?!)
Rack: Velo Orange Porteur Front -- $160.00
Saddle: Brooks -- $100.00 (assuming B-17, I don't think these things come with Ti Swallows...)
Seatpost: Nitto S65 -- $80.00
Headset: Chris King 1” Threadless -- $100.00
Stem: UI-5EX -- $80.00
Tires: Panaracer Pasela Tourguard -- $60.00 (for two)
Wheels: (Not specified, but assuming total blingin' Chris King) $700.00

That's a total of: $1751.00...RETAIL!
(Keep in mind that these parts were most likely purchased by the manufacturer at 40%-60% less than retail -- especially for those pricey Chris King items.)

That leaves at least a cool $2444.00 for the handmade, lugged steel frame (and a water bottle cage...). Granted it was touched by the hands of the almighty Chris King, but $2500.00 for a "shop errand" frameset? Ouch.

The Beloved Morton (and the entired Beloved bike line, actually) is representative of that scary, and at times downright distasteful, side of boutique bike building -- over-charging a customer for a fancy name and hastily fabricated provenance.

In fact the Beloved Morton is the very definition of boutique -- it isn't an errand bike, it's merely a fashionable accessory.

____

Take a look at the $1500.00, handmade ANT "Boston Porteur". Strikingly similar in parts spec and build to the Morton, just $2695.00 cheaper (and it comes with lights!).

ANT Boston Porteur -- $1500.00 and still cool as hell.

Change of direction?

2011-01-07T09:44:00.001-05:00

I'm addicted to cyclocross. There will ~~probably~~ definitely be an inordinate amount of cross related posts from now on.

Cyclocross circa 1998.

2011-01-07T09:23:00.004-05:00

These videos are great! Secret cross training weapon, perhaps?

(I dig the music too.)

That's Advertising...

2010-07-27T15:29:00.004-04:00

This advertisement for Merckx bicycles popped up on VeloNews.com:

Is that a bloodied Boonen?

My guess is Eddy Merckx never actually feasted upon the flesh of his rivals, but hey, doping was a bit different back then -- time's were simpler, more primitive.

Quick-Step should do a cannibal photo shoot. I can see it now: blood, guts, and skinny guys in spandex...

Effective ad? Jury is still out. Does Boonen make a great Zombie? No question.

This post has nothing to do with that little race in France.

2010-07-24T15:22:00.004-04:00

The USA Mountain Bike National Championships concluded last week. And me, being a poor MTB fan, did not realize this until today when I stumbled upon a link to cyclingdirt.org.

Turns out that Mr. Ned Overend (now 54 years old) won the men's singlespeed national title. Age of the second place finisher: 29. That's impressive. He also won it on a Specialized Rockhopper. No carbon wunderbike, no fancy dancy full suspension. Just two very strong legs and a set of lungs that rivals the best roadies'. Here's a little video about the race.

Age it seems, is no reason to slow down.

This is what makes Mr. Voigt so cool.

2010-07-20T17:10:00.005-04:00

Jens Voigt quoted on VeloNews.com (emphasis is mine):

“I’m doing 70 kilometers an hour on the first descent when my front tire explodes,” explained Voigt. “Before I hit the asphalt I actually manage to think that this is going to hurt. Both knees, elbows, hands, shoulders and the entire left side of my body were severely hurt.

“My ribs are hurting but hey, broken ribs are overrated anyway. Fortunately, I didn’t land on my face this time and I’m still alive.

“I was offered a ride on the truck that picks up abandoned riders but I’m not going to quit another Tour de France. Now there’s a rest day and Paris is not that far away.”

How can you not root for this guy? The epitome of a cycling hard-man, but with enough sense not to take himself (or the sport) too seriously.

Jens, when your stint as a ProTour rider is up, please move to the US (preferably the Northeast) and start a coaching business.

What's that?

2010-07-15T10:01:00.002-04:00

So I have a subscription to Versus Tour Tracker. All the TDF stages, uncut. It's pretty sweet.

It allowed me to capture this golden nugget from Stage 9:

See that there? On the left? Those are two penny-farthings (or "p-fars") fixed on some van's bike rack... I was remiss, though, I saw no old-timey fans in knickers and top hats.

How about Contador and Schleck? Pretty unbelievable, huh? In a Tour where everybody else looks suddenly human, these guys are insane.

I've been reading some provocative scientific commentary over at "The Science of Sport" -- this article in particular is intriguing: "Cycling Performance: What is Possible"

So they are human....

2010-07-11T00:24:00.003-04:00

A great exposé on rider recovery. Thanks CyclingNews.com! It's nice to hear that these guys are, indeed, human. Each racer needs his sleep:

Mr. Millar, you've never looked so innocent.

Hyperion = Club

2010-07-09T17:43:00.002-04:00

Those Campy Hyperion's do make good clubs after all...

Carlos Barredo fights Rui Costa! ProTour meets WWE.

The Best Picture of Le Tour Thus Far

2010-07-07T20:05:00.004-04:00

Dust, dirt, and cobbles? Isn't it July?

This photograph screams "fast". Lance looks pissed and Popo looks like a madman -- oh to be a passionate athlete!

high speed

2010-06-15T17:22:00.002-04:00

How can guys walk away from hitting the deck at 40+ and I break my hip at a training race going 28?

Let's hope Mr. Haussler recovers quickly. He's due for some good luck by now.

It's the legs!

2010-06-04T23:53:00.007-04:00

This whole mechanical doping thing has gotten way out of hand. Everybody has seen that poorly edited amateur YouTube video by now (if you haven't, find it here) -- what does it tell us? Concealed, battery powered motors do exist. And...Fabian Cancellara is an absolute animal.
Did you see him attack Boonen on the Muur? Savage! How about in E3? Domination! Roubaix? Pure Punishment!

I tend to think that's pure Cancellara class, all Swiss muscle. That sort of stuff is his forté -- remember Stage 3 of the 07' Tour? Here's a recap in case you forgot:

Full on, carbon cracking, crankarm bending, in-the-saddle (mostly), mega-strength. Great stuff!

I ask this to any believer of mechanical doping's presence in the professional peleton: where's the proof?

Nobody doubts the existence of the technology. But is it truly feasible? Chris Boardman presents a cogent argument in a recent article:

"My experience within the sport tells me that to cheat blatantly in such a way would be such a massive step for those concerned - and it would involve so many members of the backup team and staff - that although it is possible it probably hasn't taken place yet for real. Just because you 'can' doesn't mean to say you 'do'."

"Any rider, squad and sponsors involved with a team caught in this way would be dead in the water as far as cycling is concerned. There would be absolutely zero sympathy and no way back into the sport whatsoever. Only desperate people would take that step and there have historically been the odd instance in sport."

One may incessantly debate the validity of doping tests (false positives, contaminated samples, whiskey, and a little recreational drug use, etc...), but no one, not even Mr. Armstrong can talk his way around a motor inside a bicycle.

nice socks

2010-05-17T16:12:00.001-04:00

nice socks. are those Quick-Step standard issue?

Getting the Miles In

2010-05-13T16:26:00.006-04:00

It's been a bit over a week since the doc approved trainer time. And boy has it been fun! (read with mild sarcasm) Surprisingly, though, there has been almost no loss in range of motion and very little pain. All level 1 stuff at the moment. Just spinning. The sunnier the days get, however, the more temptation there is to get out and ride.

Such a feeling of constraint has led me to discover a novel way of getting the miles in. A car. I've been missing that fundamental aspect of outdoor training: travel. So a few nights a week the girlfriend and I take the car for a spin up Mass Ave to Concord and back. A nice drive can scrub a injured cyclist's dull brain back to life! It also gives me time to check out what the locals are riding and endlessly critique style choices of the cyclists we pass along the way.

Here's to the Sunday drive!

The new ride.

2010-05-05T12:37:00.006-04:00

Well, it's not exactly new. But it's new to me.

A 97' Ibis Hakkalugi updated with 10' Sram Force bits. Currently in 'road mode'.

cool paintings, huh?

the obligatory 'hand-job' shot.

A ride report is soon to follow. The gearing is a low 44/32 up front and 11-25 in the rear. It should be a great commuter / dirt road / experiments in cyclocross, bike. The wheelbase is long and it weighs about 22lbs(!) so I don't expect it to behave like some pimped out Ridley.

Interested in learning more about Ibis and the Gang Green Hakkalugi? Cyclofiend has a boatload of vintage catalog scans.

I may get this beast re-painted come Fall and / or spare cash. I'm thinking vintage Ibis colors:

where can I find a Syncros stem like that?

No illusions and Hard Work

2010-04-27T15:06:00.003-04:00

Advice.

Be satisfied enough to harbor no illusions, but hungry enough to still work your ass off.
If you're an experienced racer who's never won a race, don't expect to mystically come out of the woodwork and trounce everybody. That's how people get hurt. Know yourself. Know your body. Be realistic and self-aware.

Work hard.
It's what brings us together. That knowledge of collective, voluntary, suffering and sacrifice. It's what separates us from Mr. & Mrs. BigMac.

Please, don't take it too seriously.
Cycling, for most of us, is a hobby, not a career. Nobody likes a jackass.

You don't want to see me when I'm angry...

2010-04-06T12:52:00.003-04:00

The latest spat between Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel is quite amusing.

Here are some excerpts from a Cyclingnews article documenting the issue:

"He told The Guardian newspaper that riding in the same team as Greipel "is not a problem for me, because I'm a better rider" but rebuked the idea that Greipel could ride with him at the Tour de France, saying "There's no chance whatsoever that he's coming to a bike race with me."

Cavendish added: "I was pretty pissed with Greipel's comments after San Remo. If he thought he could win, he'd say it before the race rather than when he's looking at the results sheet. It wasn't through lack of form that I didn't win San Remo - it was bad luck. Last year I won it picking my nose. This year it was possible I'd win again. There's no chance of Greipel winning a 'Monument'. Me on bad form is still better than him.”

and...

"If I wanted to just win races I wouldn't ride every ProTour race," Cavendish told The Guardian. "I understand that at the moment I'm racing to be in my best form for the Tour de France and the world championships. If I wanted to get shit small wins, I'd race shit small races."

Now, we love Cavendish, but some of these comments are out of line. 'Last year I won it [San Remo] picking my nose' -- tell that to Haussler or Hushovd (or any other San Remo participant) and we think they'd be mighty pissed.

'If I wanted to get shit small wins, I'd race shit small races.' Didn't Greipel win three stages of the Tour Down Under? Last time we checked a ProTour race is not 'shit small'. Let's reserve that talk for our Wednesday night training crit...

Come on Cav' don't make us angry...

Cancellara at E3-Prijs

2010-03-28T19:15:00.002-04:00

Let this be a lesson to Mr. Boonen and Mr. Flecha -- Fabian is ready for April 11th.

What an attack!

Stronger legs than ours.

2010-03-24T16:31:00.005-04:00

Take a look at this photo sequence posted on the SRAM 'Road Diaries' flickr account:

Alex Candelario uses his inhumanly sized quads to hurl himself toward the finish line, wresting three-quarters of the spokes from his rear wheel. The sound of splintering carbon fiber is heard in this photo:

(notice the spoke dangling beneath his left shoe)

As he skidders across the finish line at 40mph he's thinking upright, upright! (We would have long since hit the pavement.)

what expressions!

Spokes? We don't need no spokes. We're sure Mavic has this under control...

Descending in Italy.

2010-03-23T20:30:00.003-04:00

This according to Michael Barry (from his site):

"My teammate Juan Antonio Flecha filmed the descent off the Cipressa with a helmet camera while we were out pre-riding the racecourse."

Cool? Yes. Pro? Yes. Professional riders with helmet cams? The jury is still out on that one...

Dental Work

2010-03-22T19:20:00.002-04:00

we found this photo on 'La Gazzetta Della Bici'

Somehow Cav doesn't look all that intimidating. A lesson in misdirection, perhaps?

Milan San Remo

2010-03-21T09:37:00.002-04:00

it was better in video (the small dog, we mean).

Aimless Critique

2010-03-05T22:37:00.006-05:00

So we work at a dealer that sells Scott bicycles. Recently we noticed a funny acronym on the seatstays & chainstays of a 2010 CR1, it read: "Shock Dampering System" or "SDS". Dampering? We'd never heard of such a term. Maybe it's some complex engineering speak for vertical compliance... We've seen dampers in chimneys, but not on bikes. Could this be, plainly, a typo?

competitivecyclist.com has some good detail shots.

We investigated a bit further. According to Scott's CR1 tech / video page SDS stands for "Shock Damping System". Our friendly European Scott engineer even calls it the "Shock Damping System" (about 57 seconds in). This makes sense.

How many bikes have this faulty terminology emblazoned on their seatstays & chainstays? Who knows. We just like to point out the details. It makes us feel better.

We're Back...

2010-03-05T00:17:00.002-05:00

Well it's that time of year again.

Expect new and glorious things from us as the season really winds up.

For now, all you East-Coasters, enjoy this video we found whilst aimlessly searching YouTube.

So very true.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Six: Wheels

2009-12-18T22:59:00.003-05:00

So we skipped a day. Who cares. It's cold as sin here in Boston. On to day six -- wheels!

We will keep this entry short and sweet.

Buy hand-built.

What?

Training wheels? Dura-Ace / Record hubs, DT Competition spokes, 3 cross, Mavic Open Pros or Reflex's (if you're a tubie kinda guy...). This setup will last 20k + miles if properly built. No maintenance and very PRO.

Race wheels? DT Swiss 240s, Sapim Laser spokes, radial / 3 cross, Edge 2.38 or 2.68 rims. Fast, light, durable -- come on, a custom set of these is way better than your buddy's Zipp 303s.

How?

Befriend a mechanic. Order over the web from Wheelbuilder.com. Or buy the supplies and do it yourself (it's a great excuse to buy a DT Swiss Tensio).

Don't get sucked into the Mavic et al. marketing vortex. A set of the freshly minted anniversary Ksyriums will not make you faster. Really.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Four: Linkz!

2009-12-16T22:22:00.004-05:00

A change of pace today.

A selection of our favorite cycling related websites.

Worth the browse.

___

Day Four: Linkz!

twitHeap Cyclists -- All your favorites all in one place.

Road Results & 'Cross Results -- Want to know how you really stack up? These sites use some proprietary algorithms in conjunction with race results to extrapolate a fairly accurate 'ranking'.

Belgium Knee Warmers -- Now back in Version 2.0. Great insight. We need some frites. (Does the blog title seem grammatically incorrect to anyone else?)

MissingSaddle -- A compendium of pro blogs. Some well produced video and podcasts as well.

Cyclocosm -- Well written and unbiased insight. Great video race analysis too.

Roues Artisanales -- Like exotic components? Speak French? This is the site for you.

Serotta Bikes Forum -- Simply the best classifieds on the web for high-end bikes, frames, and components. Good discussion too.

CycleTo -- Unparalleled insider access to American teams (eg. Garmin, Trek-Livestrong, Radioshack...). Some great videos.

Embrocation -- The web presence of the journal we reviewed here. Good reading and oft' updated.

BSNYC -- The one and only. Still worth a look.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Three: Accessories

2009-12-15T22:35:00.009-05:00

They're not components. They're not clothing. They're not tools. They're accessories! Those little bits that you could live without, but choose to purchase because they make you that much cooler.

We highlight a few of our favorites.

___

Day Three: Accessories

1960's Rolex Submariner on 'Bond' NATO Strap

Look at pictures of the Euro pros from the 40s-70s. They all wore slim watches on thin straps. They knew what time it was... Sure this Rolex is wide and thick, but it's rugged. Its style is effortless. Its looks are in keeping with the athletic timepieces of today. It cannot measure heart rate or cadence or tell you how to get back home, but Sean Connery (or should we say Mr Bond?) wore one. And so should you. PRICE: $8450.00

Parlee Carbon Fiber Front Derailleur Clamp

While a $10.00 alloy front derailleur clamp may be considered a component, this carbon fiber beauty is technically deemed an accessory. Does one really need a carbon fiber front derailleur clamp? This item should only be received as a gift. That way the owner need solely appreciate its subtle and, at the same time, striking effectiveness without giving one thought to the cost.
PRICE: $80.00

Solid Gold Independent Fabrication Headbadge / Keyring

The accessory to trump all accessories. This item has absolutely no functional value -- it is purely 'nonessential and desirable'. Independent Fabrication is a company built on pragmatic style. For them to produce and market such an item is almost too ironic to bear. And that's precisely why you should buy this headbadge. PRICE: $2000.00

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day Two: Video

2009-12-14T21:58:00.011-05:00

Videos are an indispensable part of cyclists' training regimens. A good cycling video must inspire, entertain, and educate. It's how us poor American cyclists get our knowledge of Pro attitude and style. It's how we get those moments of glory to replay in our brains during particularly difficult intervals or whilst riding in the rain, mud, sleet, snow...

So when it's cold and dark and you're tired of imitating Mr. Hampsten you'll be on the trainer or rollers and need something to make the hours tick by.

Here we highlight some of the 'must haves'.

___

Day Two: Video

A Sunday in Hell

Just go out and buy it for yourself. This film is deserving of its praise -- it may be the greatest film about professional cycling. 'A Sunday in Hell' elevates the '76 Paris Roubaix to something other than a bike race; it may not have been the most dramatic nor memorable Roubaix on record, but through the lens of Mr. Jørgen Leth it certainly ranks as the most beautiful. Those guys knew how to ride. PRICE: $29.95

Hell on Wheels

Our favorite 'contemporary' cycling film. Pepe Danquart captures all the exhilaration and emotion of Le Tour up-close and personal. We become a part of the T-Mobile team, a friend of Erik 'Ete' Zabel -- we even befriend a younger (seemingly robotic) Vinokourov. Human drama and cinematic beauty. And at 123 minutes this film will get you through even the longest trainer sessions. PRICE: $25.49

Stars and Watercarriers / The Impossible Hour

More Jørgen Leth! What can we say? This man knows how to make a cycling movie. Neither of the movies in this bundle carry the same drama as 'A Sunday in Hell', but that's alright. Each is still an intimate time capsule of racing and riding in the early 70s. We find the time trial sequence in 'Stars and Watercarriers' particularly sensational. PRICE: $29.95

Pure Sweet Hell

One for the 'crossers. Definitely the most artistic cycling film we've viewed. The filmmakers, somewhat transparently, articulate the 'alternative' nature of cyclocross through the medium. A super soundtrack. And a great motor-pacing scene that will surely elevate the heart rate of even the most casual viewer. Drink some beer and watch this in flannel. PRICE: $19.95

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day One: Tools

2009-12-13T22:46:00.013-05:00

There are a mere twelve days to Christmas. That means there are only twelve days left to purchase those gifts for the cyclist(s) in your life. Stumped? Don't worry, we here in the MLR headquarters will be highlighting the most stylish, practical, and downright cool cycling related products each glorious day until December 25th.

____

Day One: Tools

Park BX-1 Blue Box Tool Case

Get rid of that ratty, stickered, Sears toolbox. This case from Park is compact, stylish, and very PRO. It seems to follow the design of the venerable Chicago Case, but is custom designed to hold bicycle tools. The embossed Park logo and that now-trademarked blue leave no doubt that this case means business. PRICE: $175.00 - $240.00

Knipex Plier Wrench

German engineered and built to last. The Knipex Plier Wrench is not a bicycle specific tool, but it sure is handy around the shop. The jaws adjust via a beautifully forged push-button and clamp parallel to one another holding bolt heads of any size or shape. The tool steel is smooth and will not mar exotic coated metals. Clamping force is easily modulated. The wrench comes in various sizes from 6" - 12" (the smaller sizes being more 'cycle friendly'). Much better than Vise-Grips! PRICE: $45.00 - $80.00

Shimano Special Grease

It's bright green and very slick. We're a fan of the container. There is something intrinsically cool about its simplicity... No cyclist should let friction get the best of their shifting! Use it on bolts too. PRICE: $18.00 - $20.00

Phil Wood Spoke Cutting and Threading Machine

The ultimate. Handcrafted in San Jose, CA these spoke machines are stuff of legend. Everything about this tool is lustworthy. We've been known to just turn the handle to feel the machine's fluid and hearty action (seriously, try it). Notoriously hard to find and ridiculously expensive. PRICE: $3500.00+

Of Pez and the Off-Season

2009-12-12T19:10:00.003-05:00

So it's the off-season. Cold and dark. And our blogging is lagging. We didn't want to fill the web with useless drivel -- it's quality content over quantity...

Not to fret. We have a few new interviews in the works. Expect regular updates in the coming weeks.

Kudos to PezCyclingnews.com for posting our interview (albeit edited) with Daimeon Shanks. Stop over and take a look.

We've heard it too.

2009-11-27T23:27:00.001-05:00

This well acted virtual bit needs no introduction:

Family Funtime.

2009-11-25T18:02:00.003-05:00

An excerpt from Andy Schleck's latest CyclingNews diary entry:

"The common perception is that we're [professional cyclists] robots: trained from birth to ride our bikes, programmed and conditioned to suffer, travel and race and follow team orders. But the truth is we're like any cross-section of society. Some of us are good, some bad, some funny and some serious. We're not robots and having time away from racing and the media is really important."

Would robots really play in the water? With dolphins? And smile? We didn't think so...

this picture makes our metal hearts mushy.

Just in case you missed it...

2009-11-23T22:31:00.005-05:00

Take a look at this townie published on Bicycle Design:

Bravo to Mr. van Mansum (the ride's designer). And kudos for Cannondale for sponsoring such a talent. We hate to summarize Bicycle Design's entry, so read up.

This bike seems just practical enough for the mass-market. There is one lingering question: how do you change a flat? There is glass on those city streets...

The Dutchess seems a suiting compliment to the ON urban folder released by Cannondale nearly two years back:

Embrocation Cycling Journal - Thoughts.

2009-11-19T10:47:00.020-05:00

Embrocation Volume 4.

Being Cambridgian's, cyclists, and writing majors we thought it only natural to purchase the latest volume of the Embrocation Cycling Journal (vol. 4). We love to support local cycling initiatives, especially those that arrive neatly shrink-wrapped and smell of nice paper and fresh ink.

For those of you not in the know, the Embrocation Journal is, in its own words: "...a grassroots publication that draws content from a wide variety of writers, artists and photographers and compiles this content in a high-quality, stylized book..." Embrocation also sponsors a strong regional road & 'cross team with some killer kits. These guys know cycling as entrepreneurs, industry men, and racers. So we expected top-notch journal content. And, upon the first flip-through, the Journal appeared filled with just that: high quality design, photography, and words.

Everything starts off well -- a six page exploration of Phil Wood; from factory to philosophy. What's lost in words is gained in some most excellent photographic journalism. Even a spoke machine has a bit of intrinsic beauty... Those few pages establish a tone for the Journal that is followed, for better or worse, without fail. (You'll see what we mean.)

There is a some coverage of the ToC from three sources: Rapha Continental, MASH, and Embrocation. The words of the Rapha team (written by Cole Maness) are vibrant and dramatic without the typical Rapha self-righteuous smugness. The whole MASH bit, while documented well, was unneccessarily painful. Why choose to ride track bikes along the ToC route? Good for some stories, we guess. And then the Embrocation coverage -- photos and more photos (well composed photos we might add). Somehow this was the strongest tale from the ToC. You want nuance? You got it.

Then we come to a section of the Journal titled "Reflections". Seven individual takes (meditations) on cycling -- sound a bit cliché? Well most (not all!) of the 'reflections' were. Particular grumbles go out to "The Smell of Shops," a heartfelt, but ultimately unfulfilling creative essay on the aura of bike shops. Know any shops that have enough Phil's grease coating the benches (and walls?) so that you smell some 'deep green goodness' in the air?

Two works that follow ("My Beloved" and "Jerseys") are on the right track. Just vague enough to allow the reader an 'I've felt that way' moment, while eschewing the self-satisfied tone that could so easily make them frustrating.

So there were two saving graces for those Reflections -- Speedvagen brass knuckles (buy the Journal and take a look) and "Dario Pegoretti" written by Guy Andrews, the editor of Rouleur (to which Embrocation bears a resemblance).

The 'Distractions' section holds some of the strongest, and most original, content in the Journal. Priase for "Trinkets and Shit", "Belgium", and an exposé on the Tom Boonen fanclub entitled "Cobble Eaters". These entries amuse and educate. The history lesson of the BB30 provides subtle relief from the subjective content; may we suggest a couple more tech entries an issue?

So is Volume 4 of Embrocation worth a look? Absolutely. The Journal is in a constant state of evolution as evidenced by the improvements in graphics and content from issue to issue. Volume 4 is not quite pro, but that stylish Cat. 1 you know will sometime soon hit the big time.

No More Squashing!

2009-11-16T22:37:00.008-05:00

Ergonomics and saddle design have always been of fascination to us. And we hate squashing. Thank god for Selle SMP:

'No more squashing... ergonomics mounts the saddle.'

Intrigued, we investigated. The 'ergonomy' section of the Selle website was quite informative.

'The cyclist’s seating pattern on the SMP4BIKE saddle is shared between the buttocks and the lower part of the pelvic bones (the ischial tuberosities) and the position is favoured by the shape of its rear which, besides preventing squashing of the coccyx on uneven ground, allows gentle ins and outs from the rear when the ground requires it.

It was actually the users that pointed out how SMP4BIKE is particularly valid in the front ins and outs also making it possible for those that practice extreme bike competitions with wide shorts to use it without any problem.'

When exactly does a cyclist experience 'gentle ins and outs from the rear' while riding? And where can we get some 'wide shorts' to use in competition? Are they more aero?

A Bell for Boom?

2009-11-10T22:41:00.004-05:00

What's that growth on Lars Boom's bar in this picture from Pez?

Could it be a custom mounted bicycle bell? Mr. Boom certainly has the most race-worthy commuter if that is indeed the case.

And a romantic bicycle embrace on the sands of Curaçao? With a Red Bull? The mystery deepens...

Our new favorite website.

2009-11-03T20:39:00.016-05:00

Now that's a cool rear derailleur (it's plastic)!

We found it on the Disraeligears website, the brainchild of a Mr. Michael Sweatman. It is virtual compendium of the most intrinsically beautiful bicycle part: the rear derailleur. From Campy's C-Record to the short lived Dura-Ace AX. But it's not all high-end -- this website spares no brand. How about this 'no name Russian' model:

We particularly enjoy this comment about the component:

"I like the vaguely biological logo - half fish, half digestive tract - but I have no idea what it really means. "

And who can forget Shimano Airlines?

We want that on our DH rig!

There are far too many derailleurs to list here. Mr. Sweatman has a great wealth of derailleur knowledge and a keen pen. His website is now on our favorites list. Be sure to give it a browse.

Prohibitively Costly.

2009-11-02T19:06:00.011-05:00

The Lance bicycle auction-athon fetched some mighty high prices last evening.

How about $500k for the Damien Hirst butterfly bike?

the most beautiful bike in the auction, too.

This Madone, as far as we know, is now the most expensive bicycle on the planet. We have a strong feeling that Damien Hirst's reputation had something to do with the final auction price and that the buyer probably doesn't love Lance that much. Oh the sums of money that the art world throws around!

Hopefully the bike will be ridden. A couple laps of Central Park, perhaps? It's definitely more interactive than this notable Hirst:

don't try and ride me.

The über ugly Kenny Scharf TT bike fetched a measly $45k... We enjoyed the Bike Snob's interaction with the artist. It seems that there was some last minute Sharpie touch-up afoot. Could this be the reason it brought in the least amount of dough? Or could it be those bulbous blue and red zooming caricatures? Probably both.

$45k ain't half bad.

It turns out that Lance got in a training ride while in NYC. There is no mention of a lycra-clad parade up Route 9W, however. We guess the tweets were too late:

Who knew Lance is a scone fiend? So that's what was in his musette during those Tours...

Stop relaxing. Get back to your intervals!

It's life.

2009-10-30T23:09:00.000-04:00

It is cycling that gives us hope. Hope that there is more to life than the consumer driven lethargy that saps individuality and sits idly by watching us wilt.

Cycling is visceral. It is experience. The body. Your body. Working with it, struggling when it works against you. The natural world. Feeling cold and hot, getting a sunburn or numb toes. Smelling fall.

And isn't that what life's about?

Frites.

2009-10-25T12:29:00.009-04:00

So we don't live close to Belgium. We also don't have a cyclocross bike. But we do love the cyclocross spirit. And that means attempting to replicate every nuance of Belgian 'cross culture right down to the frites...

A cozy restaurant in our favorite Maine city makes it that much easier to feel Euro with its decidedly tasty duck-fat-fried treats. The aptly named Duckfat is owned by some very good chefs and serves up some of the best artery clogging fries this side of the Atlantic. Our favorite is the Duckfat poutine -- potatoes fried in duck fat then smothered in duck gravy and fresh melted cheese curds. Mmmm. Heart attack.

A closer shot. Look at that gravy glisten!

we're lucky we work out.

They also have the classic 'cone' of fries with your choice of dipping sauces. (The garlic aioli is pictured here.)

post-race or pre-race meal?

So if you're up in Portland bring your bike. Ride it a bit, then pick up some frites with gravy. Cytomax recovery drink be damned!

Questionable Antics

2009-10-19T19:55:00.006-04:00

This video is worth an entire post.

(we bear no relation to the gentleman who posted this video on YouTube.)

Nice suit, Andy. We still love you.

And is this why they call him 'Bert'?

the resemblance is striking.

Beer me. And a cocktail recipe.

2009-10-15T19:22:00.012-04:00

Behold the Dolores "Chiller" from TimBuk2. A cooler that doubles as a messenger bag. What would you put in yours? Evidently TimBuk2 thinks most purchasers of the bag consume Pabst Blue Ribbon. Just look at this cross brand marketing:

Even the bag's color scheme is evocative of the infamous red, white and blue PBR can. Why is it that TimBuk2 so associates messenger culture with the Blue Ribbon? The copy beside the product shot even mentions the beer by name:

What happens if I want to fill the "chiller" with those Lime Bud Lights? Maybe I like to down a few cans of Shlitz after a hard day on the job. Some days I like a couple Mad Dog 20/20s for a rawkus night on the streetz. Don't pigeonhole me, TimBuk2...

This got us thinking about the role of alcohol and cycling and...pigeonholing. Cyclists and their drinks are too often lumped together in stereotypical pairs. For example:

Hipsters = PBR
Poor Racers = Miller High Life
Rich Racers = Heineken Light
Cafe Racers = Stella Artois and Red Wine
Triathletes = Michelob Ultra (is that even beer?)

But there are hipsters with an affection for high-dollar Trappist Ales and racers with a love of boxed wine... Cyclists break their respective alcohol niches all the time (with the exception of those tri. folks). Such un-stereotypical behavior can easily be prevented if all cyclists were to drink the same alcoholic beverage. Homogeneity is king!

We at the MLR mixology laboratory formulated a cocktail recipe that should satisfy even the most hardcore cyclist / boozehound:

The Cyclists' Cocktail:

3 oz Vodka - Heavily Chilled

2 Scoops Electrolyte/Energy Drink Mix (we prefer Gu Brew)

1 Teaspoon of sugar (to taste)

8 oz of water

Wedge of Lime

Ice

Directions: Combine vodka and drink mix in a suitable drinking vessel (we recommend a 16oz wide-mouth Specialized water bottle). Add water (use less if you prefer a sweeter more vodka-y flavor). Add ice. Shake or stir until drink mix is dissolved. Add lime and sugar to taste. Voilà, your beverage is ready. All the alcohol and electrolytes your system needs. Note to the 'core contingent: substitute vodka for warm gin; now it's a man's drink.

Tour De Cookie

2009-10-13T23:52:00.002-04:00

These folks should chat with the UCI. We imagine a tasty professional stage race in the future. Hey, why not?

Product Review: Pearl Izumi P.R.O Barrier WxB Jacket

2009-10-12T23:50:00.021-04:00

Our vacation is over. We are back to the daily slog, sadly. But our time away was not for naught! We were able to put our newest and now favorite-est cool/cold/inclement weather cycling garment to the test. The Pearl Izumi P.R.O Barrier WxB Jacket has a long name and quite the laundry list of technical features; it's a fully waterproof - taped seam - highly breathable - well fitting - stylish - feature rich "quiver killer" of a coat. And is quite a steal at $250.00 retail considering the clothing it could replace.

Our first ride with the jacket was chilly (around 50°), raining, and windy. Ideal New England training conditions! We wore tights, full finger Elite Thermal gloves, and a short sleeve synthetic base layer.

We donned the removable helmet cover / hood at the start of the ride with the realization it may be a bit too much insulation and Euro style...

The hood did prove unnecessary for the temperature, but we can imagine it useful for when the mercury dips below 45° and a cotton cap just can't handle the precipitation.

The jacket's fit is not too tight, not too baggy, with a nice tall collar to keep the draft at bay. There is enough room to fit a few significant thermal layers beneath, but Pearl Izumi's WxB Laminate offers enough wind resistance (it's nearly windproof in our opinion) that only one is usually necessary.

Fit on the bike was superb. The fabric had just enough stretch that it did not bunch, but was rigid enough that it did not cling to our underlayer or skin while on the move. The asymmetric cuffs provided a secure hold around our gloves and allowed for multiple hand positions without pulling or bunching.

Here is a visual breakdown of a medium size coat on our 150lb, 6ft frame.

Rated at 15k waterproof / breathability the WxB Laminate breathed better than any other similarly waterproof cycling coat we've tried. The fabric, in fact, appeared to breathe better than our GoreTex ProShell ski coat (rated at 20k, we think...). Our few rides were not enough to fully test the long term waterproof characteristics, but we imagine that since the fabric is a laminate (like GoreTex) it should only need a DWR refreshing once in a while.

The jacket's zippers are silicon coated for waterproofness. This certainly enhances the all-weather functionality of the coat, but leads to difficult opening and closing while riding. Taking both hands off the bars to unzip and zip a rear pocket with full finger gloves is slightly unnerving. The addition of a hidden internal pocket for extra gels (best kept warm!) or keys would be nice.

We estimate 50° - 55° as the upper operating temperature for the jacket. While we can't vouch for the jacket's low operating temperature (at least just yet), we imagine it to be somewhere around 20° (with proper layering, of course) -- anything colder and you shouldn't be riding.

Buy the Pearl Izumi P.R.O Barrier WxB Jacket if you need one cycling coat. It's built to last, fits well, performs with aplomb, and is (gasp!) a better value than this silly $640.00 Swiss thing.

The Great White North, or a Road Trip To Prince Edward Island

2009-10-08T20:15:00.012-04:00

October in New England means cyclocross, pumpkins, and falling leaves. So what a better way to get it started than a trip to the great white north: Prince Edward Island, Canada. A mere 12 hours from our fair city, P.E.I is known for its tasty mollusks, potatoes, and Anne of Green Gables. The prominence of agriculture on the island means its roads are both plentiful and well maintained – not unlike some of our favorite terrain in upstate New York. The island is quite large at 2,194.57 square miles so its terrain varies – from flat, traditional, farmland to wavy rollers and stunning seaside trails.

During the summer tourists flock to the island for its bucolic hillsides and red sand beaches, come fall and the island population is (almost) back to the year-‘rounders. The roads are empty. The temperature still manageable. Having ridden many miles of P.E.I macadam under sunny summer skies we were anxious to try the island in this, the most dramatic of seasons.

So we made our trip in one long, rainy, drive. Nearly 700 miles, the final 550 of which were wet. The rental cabin was warm and dry and near some dramatic dunes and the Saint Lawrence Gulf (Darnley, to be specific). We woke to grey skies, spitting rain, and fifty degrees. Pretend it’s Belgium, we thought, Flemish Belgium…by the water. Our first ride route would cover a coastal byway, some inland rollers, and some sticky red-dirt roads (which are a pleasure in the dry, by the way).

The Spooky performed admirably. Steady over the roads of crushed red rock turned muddy. And in steady winds of 50 kph. And up the paved rollers. And down their othersides. Our new Pearl Izumi P.R.O jacket and bibs also performed with aplomb – stay tuned for the review…

The weather was better on days two and three. A few dirt roads, some nice farmland, and very little traffic – great riding, plain and simple. We captured some of the scenery with our new Flip video camera. It’s not HD, but you should be able to get a sense of things. No helmet-mount involved, just nature’s Steadicam: the human arm. Pump up the volume!

So next fall, when the weather is crisp and your local roads monotonous, give Prince Edward Island a try. There are plenty of carbohydrate rich potatoes for eating and plenty of empty roads for you and your two-wheeled friend.

be sure to get your good costing floats.

Gloucester 'Cross

2009-10-03T23:37:00.005-04:00

We are unable to attend this year's Gloucester GP. The Super Bowl of New England cyclocross will have to wait until next year for full-on MLR coverage. Anyway, we heard it was a bit muddy today.

Page is in there somewhere. Winning. By nearly two minutes.

We wonder what day two will bring... A "W" for Driscoll perhaps?

Behold: The Theft Proof Bicycle

2009-10-03T22:39:00.015-04:00

We admire good design. We admire innovation. So we were intrigued when an avid MLR reader sent us a link to an Inhabitat.com article entitled: "Biomega's Boston Folding Bike: World's First Theft-Proof Bicycle?" Such a claim should not be taken lightly. A folding theft-proof bike, especially in our fair city, could make many a commuter's life more manageable. Here is where the link took us:

Interesting. But has the solution to bike theft really been to 'ride around on a cheap bike'? Even the theft of a $100.00 bicycle results in a $200 loss... We were immediately skeptical of this blog's credibility (well, we were skeptical to begin with, Inhabitat is no Cyclingnews).

We read on. Maybe just for the sake of some snarky blogging.

"The bike...integrates a lock within the structure of its frame. If a would-be thief tires to cut the wire, the bike becomes unrideable, but repairable."

Two things. Are the thieves privy to the Biomega marketing story? Do they know the bike is unridable if its 'cord is cut'? Owners should be warned that a cable lock is not a deterrent, even if it may be a structural element. And the fact that the bike is easily repaired after said structural element is damaged or removed! We envision many calls to the Biomega customer service center requesting new downtube cables (mine got snagged on a bike rack and broke...).

The credibility of Biomega's theft-proof bicycle claim was quickly disintigrating. We stopped reading. At least the thing looks cool. $1000.00 worth of cool? We'll leave that up to you.
____

Those pimpin' rides look remarkably like the classic Slingshot. A bike with no downtube in 1982 -- now that's innovative engineering.

The Price of (Fleeting) Glory

2009-09-29T23:02:00.007-04:00

So it started as a post on the CyclingNews.com forum: the current condition of Robert Gesink's knee. Mr. Gesink and his cohorts, evidently, have a thing for graphic imagery as this image was posted to his Twitter account by request:

OUCH! CRINGE! INFECTION?

Not the tastiest of sights. It is difficult to imagine how Gesink finished the Vuelta (and placed 6th!) with a knee in such tatters. And it looked worse. We hope infection is kept at bay. Nothing says possible career danger more than a staph infection in and around the knee... Keep it clean Robert. Keep it clean.

No time to worry! Interpreting the shotty BabelFish translated responses to the TwitPic can be amusing and profound. Each response is like a bit of found poetry. Fleeting yet enduring. Truthful yet somehow insincere. We encourage our readers to meditate on the following quotations while gazing blankly at Mr. Gesink's shredded knee:

"honey ointment takes off wonders weet I experience. Absolutely to advise."

"Lust after!"

"Whaha, not yet real fresh to see!"

"why those joinings have uberhaupt been removed?"

"burps, tasty"

Interview Nine - Dieter Drake, Promoter of the Battenkill Roubaix.

2009-09-28T14:40:00.009-04:00

Get the inside scoop on this year's Tour of the Battenkill (aka the Battenkill Roubaix) straight from the mind of its promoter, Mr. Dieter Drake. Battenkill, now a UCI 1.2 sanctioned event, should attract some big names on April 18th. Don't worry -- official pre-rides start October 24th!

this is the best image we could find. seriously.

MLR: According to an article in 'Road' magazine you were a successful amateur and currently own an "industrial heating & air-conditioning rep firm". How did you become a race promoter?

DD: I kind of fell into this thing, I suppose. I raced for a couple of regional clubs for a couple of years and noticed that there weren't too many Juniors programs around. At least there weren't any with more than a token number of teenagers riding along with adults at club rides. So I decided that there should be something at level to replace all the old guys eventually! The race promotion started with this in mind; the races support Farm Team Cycling - our very successful Juniors team. This combined with our move to Cambridge, NY back in 2003 where the infrastructure for hosting road events was /is incredible; open countryside, good roads, and small villages all make it perfect for cycling at all levels.

MLR: How many people does it take to manage a race the size of Battenkill? Do most work gratis?

DD: It's a 'labor of love' for virtually everyone involved, yes. At 2009's event, we had more than 300 people directly helping out in some way: road marshals, registration folks, technical people, police/EMS, etc. For a small place like Cambridge, NY (pop. 1,819) that's a huge turnout. Not all the volunteers come from Cambridge, of course; the reach extends to Washington County, Upstate NY, and nearby Vermont too. As I have always said, volunteers make cycling events happen on race-day. There's no getting around this and Battenkill is no exception. The support we receive at all levels is incredible.

MLR: So tell us about the UCI 1.2 ranking. Does this mean we'll see ProTour teams in April?

DD: That's the goal, yes. But without a spot on the calendar it was never going to be possible. Securing a spot was a struggle, but we succeeded. The UCI grades races from 2 through "HC" with HC being the highest level. We're starting slowly with it this year at level 2 (the prefix 1 means a single day race. 2.2 would be a stage race, generally. California is 2.HC, for example). I think we'll be able to move up the ladder in future years, but I am in no hurry. I'd rather we get things right so the race endures vs. going for everything at once. I think the reality is that we'll have a shot at 1-2 Pro Tour teams coming in 2010, but we have a strong enough base of Continental teams in North America that we shouldn't have a problem getting those teams next year. Getting Pro Tour teams to race a 1.2 race in 2010 might be an uphill fight, but we'll see.

MLR: We imagine not every race that applies for such a ranking receives it. What was the application process like?

DD: Well, it's a bit nebulous. Proving to the UCI and its federation (USA Cycling) that you have the competence and means to support an event at this level is the first step. That part takes years for sure. There's no getting around it - it's an important first step. Demonstrating an an ability to draw to teams and pro riders is the second part. We started counting the number of professionals that raced starting in 2006 and that curve has accelerated, of course, thanks to the positive feedback from a bunch of riders at that level. Former professional and good friend Mike Jones (Healthnet, Jelly Belly) was instrumental in broadcasting the event. Mike won in 2006, I think. Judy Miller was the Regional Coordinator for USA Cycling at that time and her help was tremendous as well. Once you have those two things in order with the right technical people on board, then you apply.

MLR: Any idea how much money the race infuses into the local economy?

DD: There is a big & complicated formula for this but, for Washington County, I think it was pushing $30k alone in sales tax generated for the weekend. Actual dollars spent here is a very large multiple of that number, and I imagine it's well over $1M for the weekend. That's purely speculation on my part and I'll leave that to more competent folks with that stuff. I think the compounding effect of money spent for lodging & food along the I-87 corridor leading up to and after the event is huge. I know many of the hotels, motels, B&Bs were all filled by January this year. Washington County has a shortage of lodging space, though, and we housed most of the pros this year in nearby Saratoga.

One of the goals of the event is to inspire tourism in the region, and much of this business exists outside of the Tour of the Battenkill for sure. So, the net effect on the local and regional economy is huge, I think. It's this kind of effect we hope to have going forward. More and more people are invested in the race each year.

MLR: Do you have any input as to how the dirt sections of the course are managed prior to the race?

DD: We imagine the winters can be harsh on the road surface. They're not bad, really. Most of the time they're not much different than a decent paved road. The spring is particularly difficult, however, and the winter likes to change the nature of the roads - paved and unpaved. Since the dirt roads are for the residents that live on them and not for some bike race, I don't have much business in telling the local municipalities what they can or can't do ahead of the race. The best I can do is make a few requests to avoid road grading close to the race. That said, we struggled against the weather like we did in 2008; generally, the roads are graded a week /10 days prior to the event which is normally fine if you have some rain. Both this year and in 2008 there was no rain in the 2 weeks leading up to the race so any roads that got graded were rougher than normal. But, you know, that's the race. It's no secret that it will have dirt roads and they are what they are. Racers should prepare accordingly.

MLR: How much did your racing background help decide the structure of the race?

DD: Lots. I raced all over the region at various events large and small. They all seemed to, at that time, have the same idea in mind - 10-15 mile loop out in the middle of nowhere with not much of the 'compounding effect' I mentioned earlier. I think if bicycle races are going to be successful then you need to bring them to where people will see them. I think they have to be different in some way, as well, to distinguish them from other races. Dirt roads, small villages, open countryside, and great people do it for Battenkill or sure.

MLR: Any course changes for 2010?

DD: Perhaps. There is some tentative bridge reconstruction scheduled in Greenwich at mile 35 or so that may impact the course. The feedback from this year's route was really good, however, so I am reluctant to change it. In then end it really doesn't matter - I think there are enough alternatives around here. Regular course changes aren't so bad either.

MLR: Will you ever have a tandem category? If so, who would you like to compete with?

DD: I've never had that question before! It would be hard to incorporate that into our already-full Pro/Am schedule. We're planning a 'Battenkill Tour' recreational ride on April 17 - the day before the Pro Invitational next year - that would be a great opportunity for non-standard categories. I am not sure that a competitive tandem category is appropriate for dirt roads, but who knows? I'd have to think about that one. If I were to race a tandem, I'd have to be with someone who knows what they're doing on one...

MLR: Any new race sponsors?

DD: That's a secret! That said, we're always looking to grow the race's base of sponsorship. 'Top-heavy' ships tend to capsize...

MLR: There were a few issues with timing/results in last year's race. Personally, it seemed like some folks were overreacting just a tad. Can you say anything to assuage fears of future results related issues?

DD: I think we had some really bad problems there for sure. Most of the discontent is justified, though, and we'll be making some major changes to this in particular next year to eliminate the problems we had this year.

MLR: Some categories sell out within hours of registration. Any chance you'll be adding more amateur fields this year?

DD: Boy, that's going to be tough I think. I believe we had 17 categories in 2009 with 3 Cat 4s, 3 Cat 5s, 2 Cat 3s, plus a sea of masters races, elite men & women, juniors, etc. We may have reached a critical limit for volunteers standing out on the road for the day. That and daylight are the limiting factors, I think! With an expanded Battenkill Tour recreational ride on the full course in 2010, I hope that will dissuade first-time racers from choosing the Battenkill as their first race so that it will free up some spots for some experienced racers with, perhaps, slower internet connections!

MLR: Ever consider promoting an early season stage race in upstate NY?

DD: I am not a huge stage race fan, especially in the early spring. I think the one-day classic model works well there. Most folks up here have barely 4 weeks of outdoor riding in their legs in April and the thought of riding 2 hard days in a row frightens people away. Now, if you're a pro training in Tucson for the winter, it might be different...

MLR: What is your favorite road in Washington county?

DD: Not event a contest - Meeting House Road in Easton. It's wide open, dirt, and up or down.

MLR: Have you noticed an increase in cyclo-tourists in Cambridge since the race's inception?

DD: Indeed we have, and that's a really great thing for the region. Cycling & Washington County, NY have become synonymous. There are a few cycling-related businesses here now that I don't think would have taken hold if not for some of the cycling events, Battenkill included. Some really great people have helped create this environment here for cyclists at all levels.

MLR: The winters are notoriously harsh in northern NY. Any winter training tips?

DD: Hmm, beware when riding below freezing when the pavement has a shiny look to it... I've ridden all winter on the roads up here and have never really had a problem - snow and all. For Battenkill training, I suppose it's not a bad idea to get out and ride the course as often as possible; that course takes practice to do well, generally speaking.

MLR: Who will you be rooting for in April?

DD: My perennial favorite is Team Planet Energy, led by Steve Bauer. They've been extremely supportive of the event in sending teams when the race was in its infancy. They're now a UCI Continental team with high expectations for the next few years. Francois Parisien got on the podium this year which was really nice to see. I bet Steve is already planning for how to improve on that for 2010.

MLR: Where do you see the race in five years?

DD: Pretty simple : growing, changing, expanding its impact at all levels, and looking ahead to the next 20.

MLR: Anything else we should know about April 10th and 18th?

DD: If you're planning on racing in April, I might suggest starting early. It's probably not the best race to have as your first race for the season! We're planning the first pre-ride on the course on October 24, [ed. that's early!] so maybe that's the first opportunity to get started for 2010.

We're also planning some changes & additions for both the pros, women's events for next year. These should be exciting to develop and broadcast. Hopefully by the time of the pre-ride we'll have all that established.

Interview Eight - Steven Cozza of Garmin-Slipstream

2009-09-27T23:15:00.005-04:00

And for our next interviewee: Steven Cozza of Garmin-Slipstream. Mr. Cozza was nice enough to share a few words with us fresh off a team victory at the Tour of Missouri.

from Garmin's flickr.

MLR: Congratulations on Zabriskie's win in Missouri. How was it defending the yellow jersey those last couple days? Any close calls?

SC: Helping to defend DZ's Yellow Jersey was very tough. I haven't had to dig that deep in a long time and I loved every little bit of it. I was so tired the day after the race was over we did a ride with our Garmin sponsor. There were 200 people on the ride and I had to get in the car half way through. I left every last drop of energy I had in the race to help protect Zabriskie's lead.

MLR: When does the 'off season' start?

SC: It's different for everyone. My off season started the day the Tour of Missouri ended.

MLR: Do you use rollers, trainer, or both?

SC: Only use them when I have a broken bone and can't ride outside. Otherwise won't touch them. I enjoy the great outdoors.

MLR: Do you own a tandem? And who would you like to ride one with?

SC: No, I don't own a tandem, but they are great bikes for the blind to use to enjoy cycling. I helped raise money for the Earle Baum Center of the Blind, in Santa Rosa, California
(www.earlebaum.org) to purchase 5 tandem bikes a few years ago. I loved taking a great rider named Sean who was blind out on the tandem whenever I could.

MLR: Have you witnessed changes in the domestic scene with the advent of races like the Tour of Missouri and Tour of California?

SC: I think having more races like the TOC or the TOM in the US is a great idea. The fans are awesome here in the US and it would be great for the domestic scene to get a boost with races like these.

MLR: Those Garmin Edge computers are pretty snazzy. Do you find yourself lost without one?

SC: I'm an Eagle Scout. One of my favorite off season things to do every year is to walk into the mountains with food and just a sleeping back. Bishop, California is my favorite place to start hikes out of. I don't even bring a map. Having a Garmin Edge is a great tool to train with. I am so so so glad they are my team's sponsor. Awesome company and an awesome product line.

MLR: Garmin's training philosophy seems pretty progressive. Do you have a personal coach and program? Or is your training more team-centric?

SC: Yes, Dario Fredrick (www.wholeathlete.com) is my personal coach. He's help get me through the "ups and downs" of professional cycling. I recommend him to any serious cyclist and/or weekend warrior.

MLR: Ever use those 'Space Legs'? Do they work?

SC: I do use them when I can. Do they work? Who knows. I think they help. If anything they look cool and are funny to wear.

MLR: Are you a DZ Nuts convert?

SC: I use DZ Nuts for Shaving Cream. It actually works great.

MLR: In the day's break at Roubaix '09. Certainly an accomplishment. Was it as difficult as you imagined?

SC: I love the Roubaix race. I am addicted and it's definitely in my eye for the next ten years. I love the cobbles and feel so at home on them. It was a real pleasure to race in the break all day at my first Paris Roubaix. The fans kick major ass.

MLR: Will you do it again in '10?

SC: Yes. I'll be there in '10. I know I can be strong in the final for Martijn our classics leader. I want to save myself for the last 80 kilometers to help him win. When my opportunity comes I'll be ready.

MLR: What's your favorite 'hometown' race?

SC: Our old Tuesday night crits in Santa Rosa. I sure hope they bring them back.

MLR: How long do you live in Europe each year? Do you speak any foreign languages?

SC: I only spend the winters months back home. November through December usually. The rest of the time I am in Spain working on my Spanish.

MLR: How often do you replace your cycling shoes?

SC: Once every 3-6 months of racing.

MLR: You've had your share of injuries as a pro. What's your advice for those who hit the deck and break something?

SC: Enjoy your time off. Everytime I break something I always come back stronger and have the best races of my life.

MLR: Does the mustache have performance enhancing qualities?

SC: Yes the mustache gives me "super powers", ha ha. I can't wait to grow it back for the 2010 season. If you go to my web site www.stevencozza.com on the home page you can print the "stache" to wear at the races I'm in. Hope to see my fans wearing the "stache". [ed. they'll be donning the 'stache en mass.]

So you heard Steven. Check out his website. Print the 'stache. And give some dough to his charity!

Cadel Cadel!

2009-09-27T11:28:00.008-04:00

Great attack. Worthy victor. We think this provides a bit of solace for those Grand Tours...

And Fabian. An absolute animal. But he was the marked man. What a story that could have been -- TT World Champion and Road Race World Champion... There is always next year.

frustration and fatigue.

This was a cool corner too:

(screenshots from Universal Sports feed)

This is odd.

2009-09-27T10:34:00.005-04:00

Look closely at this Speedplay advertisement. You'll soon realize what's shaving those 33 seconds (and why it is incredibly creepy).

body anyone?

Check out the video too.

Interbike Coverage: An Idea

2009-09-26T08:30:00.000-04:00

The major cycling websites have a disappointingly drab selection of Interbike highlights, most of which consist of thinly vieled advertisements. Here's an idea for a future blog -- categorized, and complete, Interbike coverage. We send a cameraperson to take a slew of photographs from each booth. We then upload and catalog those photos appropriately. Voila! In-depth photographic coverage of the nation's most important bicycle trade show. No more wondering: "Why didn't we see anything from _____ this year?"
____

Now that is a large cassette.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/makaibikes/3951486537/

Is that a giant R-Sys? And a disc brake too? This ride has everything!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markcosio/3957573877/

This stuff seems like a godsend. We wonder what the secret ingredient is. Perhaps honey from the endangered Swiss mountain bee?

so this isn't from flickr, but it's disc silencer spray!

http://www.velonews.com/photo/98517

Interbike 2009 Showdown Part 1.

2009-09-24T22:36:00.000-04:00

Flash Concept = Cool

Cannondale released its Flash concept bike at Eurobike a few weeks back. A super clean design that integrates Shimano's Di2 group with production bike sleekness. The cable routing (entirely through the frame), the position of the shifters (under the grips), and that full-carbon rigid Lefty contribute to a definite 'bravo' worthy steed. We applaud Cannondale's innovation. These guys produce some very clean, very high-tech stuff.

It seems that excellence breeds imitators; the folks at Fairwheel bikes just released their Di2 equipped mountain bike. Its carbon disc rotors and a heinous paint job do little to disguise the influence. Just look at that scissor-link Lefty-esque fork! Check out some pictures here. Fairwheel bikes may equip their steed with all the latest super-light carbon gizmos, but it looks like expensive parts were simply slapped on. We need some flow (it could just be that paint job...).

copycat?

While we're on the subject of design:

Check out these wheels from Lightweight:

flickr is good.

Ouch. If we're paying 4k+ a set these babies better look good. Whatever happened to painting the rim and putting the brand name over said paint? Maybe Lightweight has no black decals... We are forced to ask -- is this really the best these wheels can look?

form, function, perfection.

Parlee does it right. This is Interbike after all. Everything you bring should be perfect.

We're a sucker for white bikes. And Raleigh is spot on.

where I came from.

Ban on Two Way Radios?

2009-09-24T09:44:00.004-04:00

This is new:

"The UCI management committee, meeting at the world championships in Switzerland, has voted to phase out the use of two-way radios in all aspects of road racing." (Velonews.com, 9/24/09)

Does professional cycling need even more controversy? Didn't that whole 'no radio' test in this year's tour go poorly?

It is mystifying why the managing body of a sport would enact a ruling that will only serve to disrupt and destabilize the sport that it manages... The UCI is, figuratively speaking, shooting itself in the foot.

Big Jens doesn't like the concept of a radio ban: "Imagine if they asked the formula one drivers to do the grand prix here without the radio to the pits," he said. "They'd go, 'Excuse me, is anybody alive there?' So I don't think it's such a great idea."

Grumble. Grumble.

Ambrosio + Competitive Cyclist = $1275.00?

2009-09-23T20:34:00.008-04:00

CompetitiveCyclist.com recently introduced a new handbuilt set of tubulars based around the venerable Ambrosio Nemesis rim. A virtual clone of the wheels used on the cobbles by all our favorite Belgians. The price: $1275.00 a set (including Vittoria Cora Pavé CGs). That's an aluminum tubular rim laced to a Campy Record or Dura Ace hub and all held together with DT Competition spokes. A reminder of that price again: $1275.00. We looked twice too.

Is $1275.00 too much for a wheel/tire set of this spec? We investigated -- and the results are surprising.

First, the rims don't seem to be unfindable. This distrubutor appears to have plenty:

So that's $160.00 for the rims.

Let's price out the rest:

Campy record hubs? around $135.00 for the front. $250.00 for the rear.
Spokes: around $65.00
Nipples: around 15 cents each or about $10.00 for 64
Tires: around $190.00 a set

Rough total: $810.00

Let's say the price of materials is $850.00 when tax, shipping, and glue is included.

A good wheel builder charges $75.00 a wheel -- that's another $150.00 -- bringing the total to around $1000.00.

So there you have it -- you can accquire these wheels for significantly less dough than Competitive Cyclist is offering. The price can drop further if you troll e-bay or forum classifieds for a slightly used hubset.

But it takes work to accquire parts and find a builder. Dealing with multiple sources makes warranty claims difficult (although we doubt components of this quality would ever need warranty-ing). And we want our wheels now!

Competitive Cyclist's price, in the end, is not terribly inflated. One pays for convenience and the reputation of the dealer. We applaud such a formidable internet retailer for touting the benefits of tradition and the 'hand-built'. We'd spend $1275.00 on these wheels and tires way before we plunked down a G.3 for some Mavics...

So if you're in the market for a new wheelset, buy these babies. You know you have the money... Just remember, as when buying a lugged steel frameset for $3k+, try and not be too much of a poseur.
_____

A bit of a side note: one has to appreciate the unadulterated marketing savvy (or verbose verbiage) going on in the wheelset's write-up:

One other thing: We'd like to make a formal request to the pricing police to spare us
any slings and arrows of criticism about the cost of these wheels. The time involved
in procuring the rims alone should make them cost twice as much. These rims are rare
icons of PRO cycling as performed in its most intense and romantic circumstances.
If you're lacking in the appropriate cultural sensitivity we won't hold it against you.
But, likewise, this fact deprives you of standing to bitch about the cost. Also keep
in mind that you're getting tires and glue here -- items ordinarily not included with the cost
of wheels. All you'll need to do is slap on a cassette and you'll be ready to race for glory.

We want 'PRO' at all costs! They've convinced us!

Portsmouth Criterium

2009-09-20T22:34:00.022-04:00

One intrepid MLR reporter ventured up to Portsmouth, NH today for the annual Portsmouth Criterium. He arrived in time to see Paul Curley (racing age 54) take the men's Cat. 3 win. It's time for all of us to get a white disc wheel and bar-end shifters...

this picture is old. and taken from here.

Paul shared a few words of wisdom with the race announcer post-win. We paraphrase: 'Cycling is a sport that takes many years to master. 90% of these guys [the other Cat. 3 competitors] could beat me in a one mile TT, but throw drafting, cornering, and experience in the mix and the odds change.' Very true Mr. Curley. Very true. One must, however, have the legs to back up all that strategy.

The men's pro/1/2 race (sans Ted King) was impressively quick. So quick, in fact, this photograph was all our reporter was able to gather:

turn two?

The field was anxious. A few of the requisite breaks gained some seconds and were pulled back. Jake Keough took the win by a bike length (note: those new Gary Fisher road bikes are cool). We have no pictures because he was simply too fast.

What did our reporter learn today? Portsmouth is a beautiful town. The Friendly Toast makes a mean 'crazy' quesadilla (brie, apple, and chipotle sweet potatoes) that is best left for post-race consumption. And September 20th has no business being a cloudless 75 degrees. Allez!

Musings on the Vuelta

2009-09-19T10:44:00.005-04:00

Why do we get the feeling the Vuelta is perceived as a 'second-rate' grand tour? Is it the end-of-the-season thing? The riders? The parcours? We don't know. It is certainly lacking the fanfare of Le Tour, the Giro, and some important classics -- the primary media coverage, at least in the USA, is almost non-existant (with the exception of VeloNews).

There is absolutely no reason for the Vuelta to be perceived as boring or second tier. Replays and memories would abound had any of the following events taken place during Le Tour (or even the Giro).

A super strong Cadel Evans losing a minute due to a botched wheel change? Now that is drama! Such an incident rivals Mechov's TT bike change for the most memorable mechanical of this year's grand tours. How about Gesink's fall from contention? Or the return and subsequent disappearance of Alexander Vinokourov? Columbia's sprinting dominance (again) has to count for something. We could continue...

Whit Yost says it best in his piece entitled 'Why the Vuelta Matters': "...let’s stop hating the Vuelta for what it’s not and start giving it credit for what it is—one of our last chances to see some of the world’s best cyclists vying (albeit half-heartedly at times) for late-season glory."

Jose Luis Arrieta must think the Vuelta is at least somewhat important:

Cracking Carbon

2009-09-17T22:54:00.004-04:00

Worth a visit:

'Busted Carbon: photos of broken carbon fiber bicycle components.'

a sample:

ouchies.

Mechanic Rant Thursday!

2009-09-17T10:07:00.002-04:00

The resident MLR mechanic came upon a situation recently that inspired much further thought (don't worry, there is a moral at the end)...

A customer trudged in with a boxed bike to be rebuilt aprés cross country shipment. The Electra Townie 21 went together with relative ease. There was something funky, however, with the rear dropout spacing. How could a 135mm spaced rear wheel fit between dropouts that measure 120mm apart? The answer: seriously stretched stays. Our mechanic gave Electra a ring to confirm the spacing of the rear dropouts -- there should, indeed, be 120mm between them. The reasoning? The company uses the same frame for all their bikes, including the single speeds.

Isn't this a major design flaw? What would the owner (most likely a recreational rider) of such a bike do in the event of a rear flat tire? We can only imagine the situation: the rider flats on a bike path or the boardwalk. He removes the rear wheel and changes the punctured tube. The rider attempts to install the rear wheel -- it won't fit. Frustration and anger ensue. The rider, unable to stretch the substantial aluminum stays 15mm by himself, flags down another rider to assist in what should be a simple procedure. Some serious blood, sweat and/or tears later the wheel is mounted. All praise horrid foresight!

Lazy engineering and confounding component spec are problems that plague many of today's bicycle / component manufacturers (FSA Cranks, i-Bike, R-Sys...). While solid engineering may cost more at the outset, the money saved from future warranty issues, customer service calls, and customer abandonment would only reinforce the wisdom behind the initial investment.

Interbike arrives in nearly a week (fodder for more posts!). There will be gloss and there will be shine. Just don't let a pretty paint job disguise nonsensical (or, if you're an optimist, superb) engineering.

Tommeke!

2009-09-15T18:57:00.003-04:00

Why don't we have cyclists in American flooring commercials?

Instead we just have this guy:

Spooky Skeletor Review

2009-09-10T12:31:00.011-04:00

There are many frame-builders in our fair state of Massachusetts, so we had our heads full when we set out to replace the beloved Cervélo. We needed a race frame for under $1k. Sorry IF, Seven, Zank, Parlee et al. your frames, although beautiful, were simply beyond our budget. But there was hope in our quest. A small company by the name of Spooky produces a frame that met our strict criteria -- handmade, light, raceworthy, inexpensive, and cooler than Cavendish's victory salutes. At $850.00 (frame only) the Spooky Skeletor is more than a bargain, it's 'downright theft'.

The particulars:

6061 anodized aluminum. Around 1150 grams (size 57.5). Race ready geometry. Stiff. Stiff. Stiff. And hand crafted in Easthampton, MA.

The Skeletor in all its glory.

The review:

We might as well get the negative stuff out of the way first.

We purchased the frame with a Cane Creek 110 internal headset. An extra $80.00, we thought, would be worthwhile to spend. Why no 110 in the pictures you ask? The bearings are there, but the top cap and spacers that arrived with the frame were silver. A polished silver top cap on an anodized black frame? Definitely a fashion faux pas. But we can forgive this detail on a sub $1k bicycle frameset...

We can also forgive the lack of spacers for the seat-tube bottle cage.

The shallow and narrow rear dropouts can also be forgiven.

The following may not be an issue with the frame, but it is worth noting.

Take a look at this shim work:

We discovered significant lateral play upon installing our Campy Ultra-Torque BB cups and crank. A problem we did not see on the Cervélo. So we re-installed everything. The play remained. ...a sinking feeling as memories of a certain article by RogueMechanic began to creep to the front of our brains. It turns out that the fixed spindle length of the Ultratorque Cranks does not allow for much variation in BB shell width. The 'wavy' washer in the non-drive side cup should compensate for small differences in shell width, but this time it was not sufficient. Our BB shell was not exactly 68mm wide. And the crankset did not like it. We installed a 1mm shim between the NDS cup and frame -- no more play. Problem solved. A definite annoyance that should not be solely attributed to the Skeletor.

But don't forget: love is in the details! Had this frame cost $2000.00+ such issues would be unacceptable.

The good:

The bike rides like an oversized aluminum bike is supposed to ride -- stiff, responsive, and compliant. A perfect combination for the racer in all of us. While the ride quality is not nearly as supple as some high quality carbon steeds, it does the job. We find it more than comfortable over the decaying Massachusetts macadam.

stiff.

stiff and compliant.

The bike climbs well. Descends well. And corners with aplomb. Don't try and convince yourself that an S-Works Tarmac or some carbon Italian wündersteed will make you faster. It won't.

Buy a Skeletor and be happy with its aura, for it oozes cool. That sort of funky, independently awesome sort of cool. And you do not have to be one of the sponsored pros on Spooky's team to appreciate it. Small manufacturers have the ability to do that -- ride one of their frames and you're 'in the know'. Just try and not be too much of a poseur.

Nine Second Video

2009-09-09T19:07:00.003-04:00

Sometimes one comes upon a video that is simply too good not to share:

This rider apparently took a lesson from the Eric Barlevav school of sprinting. Very lanterne rouge of him.

Incredibly Epic Images

2009-09-07T23:00:00.007-04:00

Cycling News has outdone itself with its Vuelta image galleries. The shots are too epic, in fact, for us to fully appreciate their epicacity. Just look at Fabian speaking into his race radio! Now that is an award-winning photograph.

Here are a few of our favorites from the bunch:

Precise composition. Stellar lighting. Intense subject matter. And that background is stunning! This is truly one of the most incredible images of the Veulta. Mr. Millar, there is a Pulitzer in your future.

This shot implies a certain camaraderie known only to a select few -- firefighters, marines, oil rig drillers, swamp loggers, and team Astana. Vino is surrounded by teammates, all of whom are in high spirits, waiting for that moment to tear the legs off the peloton and deliver the once disgraced champion to victory.

Minimalist. Silent introspection. Here we gaze into the eyes of another disgraced champion and think: 'is it an arm warmer day?' We are privy to a moment usually reserved for the siding on the team bus or a port-o-potty mirror. A stunner.

We recommend the work of Mr. Tim Kölln for those interested in some actual professional photographic know-how.

Carbon fiber luv!

2009-09-03T21:17:00.013-04:00

Eurobike is here and that means only one thing: überlight carbon goody analysis hour!

Behold the new KéO Blade from Look:

The photo is swiped from Cyclingnews' / Bike Radar's coverage of the show. We particularly enjoy this caption beneath the shot of Look's new pedal:

"The carbon spring looks suspectible [sic] to crash
damage in our eyes, but Look's Arthur Espos says it's fairly
well protected - and reasonably easy to replace if needed."

Not exactly overwhelming confidence on Look's part. One would hope Look's engineers did not set out to make a pedal that is only 'fairly' durable and 'reasonably' easy to repair. Maybe they should hire the marketing team behind the re-coloring of the universally loved R-Sys to spin the advantages of a carbon leaf spring and titanium spindles...

Yes, the R-Sys is back for another go. And it's colored this time!

We applaud innovation, but this product is one that should simply go away. Unless, of course, Mavic is attempting to build on the success of the colored Deep-V or Aerospoke (we haven't heard of an R-Sys with track spacing...yet). We think it's more likely that Mavic invested too much in an inherently flawed design and is attempting to recoup some dough before the company gets sold. Mavic did cite, however, that "customer feedback on the execution of the recall [of the defective R-Sys] has been positive." And how many of those who bought the R-Sys last year will buy them again? We predict a large market of significantly depreciated carbon spoked wheels. We digress...

Check out these beauties from Corima:

Yes, those are twelve tubular carbon spokes on the front and twelve tubular carbon (!) spokes on the rear. And the spokes are paired. What happens when one hits a piece of errant road debris and loses two spokes of a twelve spoke wheel?

Highly Innapropriate Behavior

2009-09-01T18:59:00.004-04:00

Don't worry Robbie. 2010 will be here soon.

Friday link spectacular!

2009-08-28T09:58:00.015-04:00

Friday is news day -- we cull the best of the cycling web this week.

Have something to add? E-mail us: mylanternrouge -at- gmail -dot- com.
____

Slate, not known for its prowess in bicycle journalism, took a stab at reviewing some 'city bikes' in an article published this week. The review, and the video that accompanies it, provided plenty of fodder for the folks at Cyclocosm.com and Mr. Bike Snob NYC.

Here's the video:

And the links:

Cyclocosm reacted first. Then BSNYC.

We predict some smarmy re-dubbing or even lower production value YouTube parodies...

While on the subject of urban cycling:

thereifixedit.com

The Serotta Message Board Classifieds Deal-Of-The-Week!

An IF Planet X frame, fork, King HS, XTR Cantis, stem, and po st for $6 50! It's a cool color too...

buy it.

And in other news:

We'd be a bit wary of riding a bicycle made of hardwoods.

The best Op-Ed piece of the week:

'Bikes, Bloodsport and Black Shoes -- You Can't Hand le the Truth.'

Racing news, racing news, racing news!

oh shit.

Interview Seven - Daimeon Shanks, mechanic for team Garmin-Slipstream

2009-08-26T22:47:00.011-04:00

We present head U.S. mechanic for team Garmin-Slipstream, Daimeon Shanks, our lucky seventh interviewee. Read up budding mechanics! These are words to live by.

No shop apron here...

MLR: So, first question: how did you get the gig with Garmin?

DS: I've been with Slipstream Sports since 2006 back when it was called TIAA-Cref. I was working for the US Track team and met JV at the Los Angeles World cup. I helped Mike Friedman out after he smashed up his bike in a madison exchange. Jonathan called me the next week and asked if I wanted to come do the inaugural Tour of California with 'em. Boom.

MLR: Do you wrench both the domestic and European races?

DS: In the past I've done both (most notably the Giro d'Italia last year), but this year I've been in American only. The professional team will compete in only 3 races in the U.S. - Tour of CA, USPro, and Missouri, so I've spent most of the year with our u-23 team, Felt-Holowesko Partners. We did two races in Europe this spring, but most of my time has been spent buying beer for underage cyclists.

MLR: How many mechanics on the team? And who's the 'boss'?

DS: 7 full time mechanics in Europe and me in the U.S. In Europe we have a Basque guy running the show who, although we're an American team based in Spain, neither speaks English nor Spanish. I'm in charge of the U.S. operations, but as there's only one of me it's a bit of a dubious honor.

MLR: Are you surly?

DS: Some riders make me surly. Guys who think that a bloated pay-check and a top 30 in a ProTour race gives them the right to treat other people like shit. Yeah, those guys are cunts.

MLR: Are there any stylistic mechanical trademarks within the team (e.g. finishing tape, cable-tip crimps, skewer position...)?

DS: Baby blue electrical tape to finish the bars and mark the saddle height. We run the skewer pointing straight down - easy to open, easy to close and will never get knocked open in a race. I also have custom "Tuned by DaimoWrench" decals that I put on some of the guys home bikes, but the team won't let me put 'em on the race bikes. They're too good-looking I reckon.

MLR: Do you own / have you worked on a tandem? And who would you like to ride one with?

DS: Ha, I actually just tuned up JV's tandem that he rides with his kid, Charlie. I don't own one personally, but if I did I'd like to take a spin with Tyler Farrar. But only if we got to wear matching v-neck sweaters.

MLR: Spacers under the top-cap. Fashion suicide or a technical necessity?

DS: Dude, our bikes are so light already that I have to weigh them down with bits of chain to make 'em legal. Why not have the spacer to make it that little bit more safe and reliable? But only one 5mm spacer. Our euro mechanics cut the steerer tubes down so there's no spacer and it cracks me.

MLR: Biggest rival mechanic? Most admired?

DS: Don't have a rival per se... maybe one of those guys that works on the space shuttle. I admire Vince Gee (of BMC and formerly US Postal) the most. That dude's always smiling! I don't know how he does it, sometimes I get so fed up I just want to strangle a squirrel with my bare hands.

MLR: Footwear of choice?

DS: Chaco flip flops. Wearing rubber boots to wash bikes is a punch in the mechanic card. Too many punches and you become a soigneur.

MLR: The great Julien DeVriese (of Astana and USPS fame) is said to age tubulars in his basement up to four years in order to maximize the rubber's suppleness. What's your take on the 'tubular' wine cellar?

DS: Bullshit! That's just the story that dude came up with when he was caught stealing tires to sell and hiding them at his house. How many other mechanics you know that drive an M-class BMW? Man, the stories I've heard about that team... absolutely fucked.

MLR: Bike shops can be like French kitchens -- hot, competitive, and demanding. What was your first shop experience like?

DS: Whaaaa? Bikes shops are full of laconic, underpaid, and generally stoned 20-somethings. I never found it hot, competitive, nor demanding. It just plain sucked most of the time. I worked in a shop while I was in college and I'll NEVER go back to working in one.

MLR: Do you have an off season?

DS: Sort of. I work cyclocross in the winter, but I don't get paid for it so, technically, that's an off-season.

MLR: The all-new Di2. Thoughts? Is electric really the standard of the future?

DS: Hells yeah. It's friggin' awesomer than you can even imagine. You'll see some cool stuff out of Shimano next year to prove that it's the way things are going. Wink, wink.

MLR: Do you own a Campy peanut butter wrench?

DS: Fuck no. Hipsters annoy the hell outta me. Ooooh good job, riding a fixed gear in traffic! What do they want, a medal for choosing the wrong tool for the job?? It's like using telemark skis on the bunny hill. No one likes you. I have a French Mallard cassette tool for a key chain that doubles as a bottle opener. I AM the one that's cool.

MLR: Easiest rider to please? Most anal retentive?

DS: Hmmm. Ryder is pretty fanatical about his bikes, but I think when riders get to this level they're all pretty exacting. Some are just nicer than others. Will Frischkorn has always been a true professional, never came to a race with a dirty bike and always said thank you after helping him out. Tommy D and Tyler are great guys, too. The u-23 riders are funny to work with, they all change their positions for each race. I had one guy ride for two days with a saddle that was 2cm too low 'cause he thought I'd be mad that the seatpost on his bike wasn't long enough. I still laugh about that one.

MLR: Do you feel guilty when a rider suffers an ill-fated mechanical?

DS: Oh yes, of course. That's my credibility, no?

MLR: Most used tool? Favorite tool?

DS: Answer to both: Pedro's bottle opener.

MLR: Peg board or tool chest?

DS: Neither. There's not a single build or repair that can't be done with my Pedro's tool box and a little ingenuity. Any schlub can build a bike in a fully stocked bike shop with a whole afternoon to do it. That's the difference between a race mechanic and a shop mechanic. I've had to glue tubulars in a hotel bathroom before. I've had to fix bikes on a roof rack while we're still driving. Bikes really aren't that complicated, you know? It's all about being creative sometimes.

MLR: Is there any rider who is particularly hard on his equipment?

DS: Brad Huff! That guy crashed every other race he did! But I still love him to death.

MLR: Menchov's mechanic had a moment of shining glory in the last kilometer of this year's Giro. What's your fantasy moment? Has it already happened?

DS: At the Tour of California this year I did a wheel change for Christian Vande Velde when he was in the break on the final day. Phil Ligget said on TV that it was the fastest wheel change he'd ever seen. That was pretty cool. That night Christian got me a beer and we watched Spaceballs in the RV.

MLR: Anything else you'd care to share?

DS: Not really, no.

We are Campagnolo men!

2009-08-24T15:46:00.009-04:00

You are the dropped rider and these are your thoughts: Haven't I trained for this race? I need more GU. I bet they'll slow down. But I thought Campagnolo was the brand of champions?

Remember! A miserable race is not in vain if one looks stylish in his misery. And it is only on a Campy equipped steed that style overtakes a lack of a result. We are Campagnolo men!

To those non-Campy riders: don't feel glum. You too can get a taste of real style for a lot less than the cost of a Super Record Grouppo. At $39.95 'Campagnolo: 75 Years of Cycling Passion' provides a compendium of everything big 'C' related.

we like it!

From Tullio's humble beginnings as a racer and entrepreneur to the company's work forging ultralight alloys for NASA and an examination of the latest 11 speed technology -- this book has enough to satisfy even the most rapid Campy fan.

Sadly, a book won't shave seconds off your next TT like the famed Ghibli and Bora combo. Nor will it maximize your power transfer like an Ultra-Torque crankset. It simply implies that you need said components to excel. And we tend to agree. The world would be a better place if everybody owned just a little more Campy.

A Fred in your life? Have him browse the volume. You'll be surprised at the changes.

Turn this:

Into this:

Interview Six - Charles Manantan, Tech Editor for PezCyclingNews.com

2009-08-21T19:48:00.009-04:00

Next up on MLR: Charles Manantan, the man behind the product reviews on one of the world's most visited cycling websites: PezCyclingNews.com.

it must be a chore to test such inferior equipment...

MLR: So Charles, how did you get one of the best gigs in the cycling world?

CM: Man I don't know if I want to answer. I'm not what I would call great at this; if other folks knew the in's, I'd be benched up! Actually, I lucked into it. I had done a couple of small articles for a few places, then hooked up with Pez when I had a couple limited edition bikes that were not available for sale in the US. The review subjects were cool enough to make up for my lack of pen skill. I paid my own way to cover interbike when the site was still small enough that Richard [owner of PezCyclingNews] wasn't going to the show. It was there I landed the first good industry contacts. Stuff just grew from there.

MLR: Is it your only job?

CM: Nope. I have a job that pays well enough that I don't take a check from Pez (I still cover my travel for the most part as well). I like it that way because I never feel like I have to say anything I don't believe or post anything I don't think is up to it. Plus, I would hate to spoil my passion by tying a buck to it... Though I don't mean to say that others doing what I am doing are anything but above-board and making an honest effort.

MLR: How big is Pez?

CM: I could give you BS numbers like "hits" or "page views", but if you look at a review, it's all big pics and all on a single page. I like that better because some places use multi-page stories and tiny thumbnail pictures that force people to view more pages and inflate stats... Pez is built to make things a lot easier on readers. We have around a half million people popping in and viewing multiple stories. There's a lot of traffic and the place is still growing.

MLR: How many miles / hours do you ride a year? More now that 'tech editor' is your job title?

CM: I ride a lot less than I used to actually. A few days a week and the weekends. Here in Phoenix we're just getting to the nice season as the heat is fading. Our good time starts in September and lasts through June so it makes for Tan lines year round. There are only a couple months where we have to dress for a harsh winter and wear things like arm warmers... I don't ride with a computer so I don't log miles (constantly swapping wheels and tires and bikes makes for a tracking nightmare anyhow). I ride enough not to get embarrassed and to put some genuine stress on things, but you wont find me hitting it for 15 hours a week anymore.

MLR: Do you own / have you tested a tandem? And who would you like to ride one with?

CM: I have been on tandems but we've not really tested one. I always see people arguing on tandems -- that might make for an interesting article. When the people doing the testing don't agree on anything else, how in the hell can they come to a conclusion on paper? Especially one that reads well?

MLR: What's your relationship with the Pez management? Do you have final say as to what is published in the reviews?

CM: I have complete control on what I do and say (I may have spoken to Richard on 1% of the articles I've done). That's not because I don't take a check though. It's more to do with Richard never trying to force things or put words or articles up for me. The relationship side is good. Most publications are A LOT smaller than people think. Cycling staff for most publications is generally no more than a couple people.

To answer the question, pretty much everyone that works for the cycling press like the people they work with, work pretty hard at what they do and don't do it for a whole lot of cash. And unlike what some folks assume, most of the review stuff you see is pretty much what the reviewers think about the product.

MLR: Do you keep the bikes? The wheels? The gadgets?

CM: That depends on how the test comes together. I actually buy a lot of what you see on the project bikes. Part of the reason you don't see Serottas and Crumptons and Parlee's etc.. and custom wigged out paint from a lot of testers is that it costs a lot. Same goes for a lot of the other parts. Lots of the stuff provided goes back and becomes demo or moves on to the next tester. Some companies donate things to small teams etc. Everything I buy stays with me or gets passed to friends.

MLR: The custom paint on some of your test bikes pays homage to other racing legends -- who does painting? And is cycling really your favorite sport?

CM: A couple of companies have extremely good in-house painters. For the most part the "theme" bikes are from Michael at xtremeairbrushdesigns.com in Montreal. The guy is pretty damn good and he understands how to execute my (pathetic) drawing on to a bike tube.

It might sound easy or look simple but bending things to fit a bike isn't easy. I'm a big fan of MotoGP, F1, Supercross, DTM and other sports but cycling is still my thing. Cycling's got great kit too but isn't as insane as most racing as far as cost of participation...

MLR: Ever break a piece of test merchandise?

CM: Oh hell yes. I have waivers and nondisclosure with most places. A lot of what I ride never gets posted and is pre-production or proto stuff. Those things sometimes let go on you. But modern design, hard prototyping, and manufacturing are making part failure pretty rare by the time something gets to road testing. Most of the stuff getting out these days is fantastic compared to less than a decade ago. It wasn't too long ago that I scared the sh!t out of a lady working in her front yard when the front broke on something and I wound up sliding accress her grass right at her (massive luck for me as grass isn't real big here in Arizona). She wound up standing over me screaming with these big ass clippers in her hand...

MLR: Ever been spotted on a test ride?

CM: I don't know that "spotted" would be the right phrase. It almost sounds like I have popularity or that there are guys lurking in the trees like around the German car companies. I have had guys turn around seeing me on unbadged bikes and I try and have fun sometimes and run... But for the most part it's pretty laid back and my ride friends keep things to themselves.

MLR: Who builds the test machines? Do you work on your own bike(s)?

CML I build most stuff, but if I need help I don't hesitate to hit a local shop. I built the VeloVie with the BMW Sauber paint in the American Classic thing that just went up from end to end. But I also have a Serotta that will post soon that I hit a shop for help with and the Colnago EPS I also got shop help with.

MLR: Lance or Contador?

CM: How do you mean?

Strictly speaking - about racing - for next year's tour I will love watching and toss a coin (is there a three sided coin from some country that can include Andy?). Bert's no Lance and he won't be till he has a World Championship and wins another several tours. That said, I wont be surprised if he just kicks Lances ass. He's in his prime and Lance isn't. And Lance was close enough in a come back year that only a nut bag would write him off.

I dismiss the whole AC is weak minded thing too. A certain LA wasn't exactly known for self control when he was young either.

As Lance versus AC in a "big picture" look. I'm not a guy that credits the rider of the day beyond what they've done. Just like Ale Jet didn't deserve the pressure or praise that comes with asking if he was the next Cipo and Robbie McEwen is/was no Eric Zabel...Contador is no Lance Armstrong and Lance is no Eddie... I don't think it's fair tossing another finish line ahead of one that a good rider today just crossed. I think it's disrespectful to the rider who just won and the "Capo" they tend to get compared to.

That said, there's 3-4 guys I am comparing Cav to in my head right now so I'm just a blow-hard at the end of the day...

MLR: Shimano or Campy?

CM: SRAMpagmano...

All three are very good. Shimano and Campy have earned their place and SRAM has obviously shaken up both of those companies. Nothing says sexy like Campy. Frankly, Shimano has taken a step back in performance for the sake of hiding cables, but 7900 is still very good and stands toe to toe with the others and Di2 is insane. But SRAM has really driven things. Red just plain works and then they go buy arguably the top performance wheel company?

Maybe the best question should be "isn't it cool that everyone can make a valid argument why any of the top groups available are the best?"

I wish there was a single cassette standard though. Tip of the hat again to SRAM for simply making things easier on the consumer (and product testers) by just using existing spacing.

MLR: Favorite cycling publication other than Pez:

CM: It sounds like a cop-out, but you name 'em and I'm a fan of something they do. I like everything from Bicycling (they have resources to dig into lots of weird little stuff) to Procycling to Ride to Road. I'm happy RoadBikeAction is rolling again. I even like magazines that touch on cycling like Outside and Mens Health.

MLR: Most lustworthy piece of equipment tested?

CM: Too tough... The list changes daily and now that a lot of pre-interbike pictures and info are landing here, I have a hard-on that Viagra warns you about...

MLR: What's your daily riding kit look like?

CM: Always something different... I like simple / understated stuff for the most part, but I'm swapping a lot. If you mean bikes, I pretty much rotating 3-4 things unless I'm trying to figure something out.

MLR: Black socks or white socks?

CM: What color kit?

MLR: Tim Krabbe's "The Rider" -- have you read it?

CM: Yep. The mindset comes from a different place than I am now and I'm happier for it. But reading it, I find the maniac creeping back in a fashion I would guess all addicts feel at one time or another...

MLR: Primal 'Tattoo' arm warmers -- your real opinion:

CM: Like Tribal tat's on muscled up guys who wouldn't know Tonga from Topeka... 90% of the folks that have 'em will feel stupid later in life but like putting on the display today... Hell even the Yakuza know to stop their full body tats at their colar and cuffs.

MLR: Cosmo Catalano of Cyclocosm.com discusses the state of the blogosphere in a recent entry. He says: "But the 'problem' isn’t with blogs—it’s with advertisers. Less than two weeks after starting Cyclocosm, I tore into 'Bicycling' for the very thing that is just becoming a “crisis” in the blogosphere: giving high marks to the people who pay you for ad space. 'Bicycling' isn’t the only offender and is far from the worst (Pez), but with a few exceptions (film, literature), 'bad reviews'—in blogs or traditional publications—simply don’t exist outside Consumer Reports."

How do you react to a comment like that? And are positive 'reviews' really a bad thing?

CM: For starters, I would want people to understand it's a "Rant" and read the whole thing from Cosmo (including the part where he says that people shouldnt take things to seriously, including him). I'll say I don't think everything he says is wrong.

Honestly, I think it's kinda funny that "integrity" is in the title and Pez gets called the worst offender in pay for play (that's me paraphrasing btw), but the guy (me) that produces the most review content for Pez doesn't take a paycheck and isn't instructed as to what to write or what to write about. And Pez doesn't post nearly the amount of straight product announcement stuff that some other places do and try and stick to reviews or at least trips to factory's for a better look (though interbike is comming and that's just one giant gear plug...). And I pay my own way to these things the vast majority of the time.

At the end of the day, all I can do is make sure I mean what I say and that what I write about a product is accurate. That most of what you see is positive is simply because manufacturers only want to send their best stuff to media and gear junkies tend to like good stuff.

I'm not saying everyone is innocent or that some places are not more commercialized than others, but I can tell you that everything I write I believe. And to be perfectly honest with you, I am happy that people only send good stuff because riding crap kit sucks!

All that said, I don't think there is a big integrity gap for the tech nerds at the web sites he listed (Pez, Velonews and BikeRadar). How the publications are percieved is totally up for individual interpretation and the web is better when there are lots of different voices...

MLR: Ten years down the road -- what bike is still in your garage?

None! Anything I liked that much would be in the house.

Really I just don't know. I dont stand on sentiment much and with the way things progress I am not sure that any of the fantastic bikes I have now would be much more than maybe hanging on the wall for looks in 10 years. Maybe I'll do a bike with my daughters name on it or let her pick cartoon characters to put on it and that would probably stay.

I have my first road bike frame hanging up and maybe a couple of the MotoGP frames will stay... I also have a new review bike that is very classic / old-school looking but with absolutely state-of-the-art kit that might be reserved enough not to look so fashionable -- it dates it's self down the road.

That said, just about anything in the house could last well into 10 years, but I'm too shallow, greedy and nerdy and the house isnt big enough for me to collect much.

MLR: Anything else you'd care to add?

CM: Yeah, question back at ya: How the hell did I rate an interview?

Something uncool from the guys in Waterloo.

2009-08-20T20:31:00.015-04:00

The District can do much to bolster Trek's street cred. But the impression of any super-slick belt-drive singlespeed is negated by pompous, blatantly untrue advertisements -- an example of which follows:

pat yourself on the back. again.

Sorry, but it's not the bike. And certainly not the machine being advertised. Lance won on 5900s, rebadged Litespeed Blades, TTXs, and the first generation Madones. That's '7x' Tour victories aboard steeds that pre-date the current Madone by nearly three years. It was only Contador who 'conquored' one Le Tour aboard Trek's new wundersteed. To imply that the bike being advertised (the 2010 Madone 6 Series) is somehow responsible for Lance's TDF domination is absurd. We all know his success can be attributed to those six-million dollar implants he had installed back in 99'...

the chutzpah!

We admire confidence. And it is advertising. But come on Trek -- let's not get ahead of ourselves. We've seen plenty of Cat. 4s aboard their Waterloo creations dropped on the first molehill...

Then again plenty of bold assertions with little basis in fact have sold many a product:

we want some daddy!

Something actually cool from the guys in Waterloo.

2009-08-18T22:23:00.011-04:00

So Trekworld 09' took place over the weekend -- the requisite concept bikes and supposed redesigns were showcased. All was well. But browsing through some shots of the event got us thinking -- we are growing particularly fond of the big 'T's singlespeed District. Each model feels aesthetically complete -- much more so than Specialized's horrid cities-of-the-world themed Langsters. And the addition of a carbon belt-drive on some versions makes real world sense.

no more greasy hands!

We've serviced hundreds of commuter bikes and drained many cans of Tri-Flow in attempts to rejuvenate chains that should just lay down and die. How nice it would be to rid the world of those clanking greasy beasts. Don't get us wrong -- chains (and gears) should stick around, just not on those machines who get less love than Cesar Milan's cats.

Oh. There is the $3400 full carbon District too. We'd take one over a suped up Civia any day...

winter trainer anyone?

We applaud Trek for adopting a relatively niche technology and employing it on bicycles available everywhere. Now if they could just figure out some way to install a belt-drive on bikes without those funky dropouts that doesn't involve angle grinding your rear triangle...

Interview Five - The owner of our favorite LBS

2009-08-17T10:45:00.020-04:00

Greg Pelican is not a pro-cyclist, but he is the owner of our favorite local bicycle shop in the state of Connecticut. We thought it proper to give him some time to answer a few questions about what it's like to own a thriving shop, the state of the cycling industry, and if those fuel belts are truly a faux pas.

a shop owner who races? watch out.

MLR: So where exactly is Bethel Cycle?

GP: The shop is right in the center or an authentic New England Village. There aren’t any highways that come right into downtown Bethel so it’s a popular destination for people who really ride bikes to the shop.

MLR: How many people on staff?

GP: 7 and one dog.

MLR: Does the shop have a certain 'claim-to-fame'?

GP: There is not one thing, but kind of a 6 degrees of separation from Bethel Cycle. We have had some very good people race in our jersey and work at the shop.

MLR: Being a shop owner allows you to...

GP: Walk or ride to “work” and share my passion and vision for cycling with others.

MLR: Do you sell tandems? And who would you like to ride one with?

GP: Let’s see in 10 years we only sold 2. Of course if I did ride a tandem I would want to be with my beautiful wife!

MLR: You're well known in local circles to 'race what you sell'. Most impressive bike to date? Least impressive?

GP: Most Impressive: My current ride the Pinarello Prince is probably my favorite all around road racing bike. It’s fun, makes you want to ride fast and really carves the corners. And it has that way over the top euro red and yellow Prince of Spain paint scheme.

Least Impressive: There was a Scandium Eddie Merckx bike that I wrote a scathing review about a few years ago.

MLR: Cancellara or Zabriskie?

GP: You have to love Cancellara’s passion. Clearly both of these guys are monsters but when Cancellara is motivated look out.

MLR: How many years have you been racing?

GP: I’ve only been racing the bike for about 20 years but I was a good runner (880 and mile) way back in the early 1970‘s. I stopped running track to play soccer year round. I became all state (NJ) in soccer player and was the high scorer in a semi pro league.

My first real competition on the bike was a triathlon in 1989. I rode a rusty Fuji Del Ray complete with a rack and towel. I got such a kick passing people on $4000 Kestrels that I decided to buy a good bike and try bike racing.

MLR: Training with power -- the only way to go?

GP: For sure everyone who trains seriously would benefit by training with power. But it’s not everything. Cyclists need to develop a good spin and proper pedaling technique. I find riding a fixed gear helps to teach my muscles what they need to do. Now that I think of it maybe new racers should ride a fixed gear bike for a year before they are allowed to go anywhere near a Powertap.

MLR: How many members does your club have? What's the most popular discipline?

GP: Our club is thriving. We have 192 active members split roughly into thirds split between sport / recreation riders, USCF racers and multi-sport du / triathletes. There are a few guys who race mountain bike as well. I love the diversity of the club and how everyone supports each other. A good example of this is our club TT series where we have first timers being cheered on by National Champions.

MLR: You're a duathlete -- why not learn to swim and join the tri world?

GP: Hmm… I guess I should avoid this question as I might incriminate myself. Here is the truth:

I can swim and even with no background, and minimal time in the pool I’m an average swimmer. Even with my mediocre swimming I have had some good results in tri’s. Last year I placed 8th in the USAT Tri Sprint National Championships in my age group. And I was 2nd out of 246 in my age group at the NYC Triathlon.

Despite making several forced attempts at improving my swimming I always reach the same conclusion. I hate going to the pool to train. I just hate everything about the experience, going there first thing in the morning or late at night, being cold, sharing lanes, the boring repetion, smelling like chorine all day… So my current mindset (which is always open to change) is that life is too short and to simply do what I enjoy. I feel blessed to be good at and love and running and cycling.

That said I have nothing against swimmers or triathletes. This is just a personal choice.

I also prefer the head to head competition of a duathlon, bike race or running race to the almost time trial feeling of multiple heat format triathlons. Heck at the NYC Tri last year I was in the last of 30 heats had to swim against the incoming tide (when others were pushed downstream 2 hours earlier by a strong current) and then I passed thousands of racers on the bike and run. I didn’t have a clue what place I finished and didn’t even stick around for the awards. It was a little anticlimactic to read I finished second the next day by reading the results online.

MLR: Do you own a pair of flippers? A kickboard?

GP: Yes to flippers. Does a boogie board count? I use it for riding waves at the Jersey Shore.

MLR: How important is the proper bike fit? Is it more important in one discipline than the other?

GP: Proper bike fit is important for all disciplines for optimum performance. I see the most hideous bike positions on tri bikes. In many cases the seat is way too high and the bars way too low for the rider’s flexibility. It’s no wonder many triathletes or duathletes can’t run fast coming off the bike. Of course I am happy to help these riders out -- this is what I do.

I see bike fitting as finding the right balance between power, aerodynamics, comfort and bio-mechanics and this is different for each rider. It’s not magic, it’s not voo doo, it comes down to using a proven format and experience. I’ve been doing this for 10 years, I race myself at a high level, and I also get to see many of the riders I have bike fit everyday out on the road -- I have gotten a good sense of what works.

MLR: Any advice for those contemplating entering the cycling world on the business side? Anything he/she should look out for?

GP: I was lucky to have 15 years of solid business experience with Fortune 500 companies before buying Bethel Cycle. For sure it was culture shock coming into the bike industry. Basically even the big players are very unprofessional when it comes to marketing and working with dealers compared to what I was used to. Instead of thinking how to promote cycling and how to help dealers grow their business, most bike industry managers put their head in the sand and just keep doing what they have always done. Very small minded. The bike reps that represent the lines we carry are a freaking joke (with the exception of Lou from Cannondale who does a good job). I get a visit maybe once a year from a major line representative and these guys have maybe 30 dealers in their territory. Maybe I should be a bike sales rep! Lets see…that comes down to working 30 days a year. Do these guys have managers?

There is one company that is very progressive and that is Quality Bicycle Parts (QBP). They have invested in technology that has helped our business and at the same time has increased our purchases from them.

MLR: Internet retailers. What do you say to those tempted by low prices and seemingly endless selection?

GP: First I will say that we are lucky to have a loyal and local customer base that support our shop because they understand how we are helping them and the local cycling community.

We sell our products at a fair price but even if they could find something 10% cheaper online they realize that...

〈 They can walk in with a warranty claim and Bethel Cycle will quickly take care of the problem.

〈 That we staff pro mechanics who really know how to build pro level bikes and how to troubleshoot those pesky problems when the pop up.

〈 It is the confidence that as a good customer you can walk into our shop on a busy Saturday and get immediate emergency service the day before your big race.

〈 Or that they can join in on one of our famous “shop rides” year round and share the camaraderie of our club.

〈 And our customers also understand that we put money back into the sport by sponsoring local races and by managing and sponsoring the largest bike club in CT.

One thing the uneducated consumer needs to look out for when internet shopping is not to get sucked into the gray market vortex.

Gray market was a big problem when I worked for Fuji Film and Eastman Kodak and it also affects many industries including the bike industry. Gray market is when bootleg or questionable quality product is sold through non authorized channels to the consumer. The end result is often sub par quality that the manufacturer will not support. I wrote an editorial about this something like 8 years ago called “The Shimano Gray Market” which got the attention of many consumers and the whole Shimano management team. Shimano called me to tell me they were aware of the problem and were taking steps to resolve the problem. Since then Shimano has done a great job controlling gray market (and I removed the editorial from our website).

Currently there is a big problem with Gray Market Campy.

Let me outline how this can hurt a consumer...

Say you buy that Campy Record group from that low ball Internet site (maybe from Ireland or Chicago) at 25% below the MSRP. You ignore the warning signs and a year later your crank cracks. You try to get it covered under warranty but Campy will not honor the claim as it is not an authorized product and or was not sold through an authorized dealer. If you look closely at 2009 Campy parts you should see a small tracking number (a form of bar code). Campy cares about the gray market problem and has taken some important steps to track and eliminate their products.

Bottom line if you see a deal that looks too good to be true it probably is gray market product or not from a supported or authorized distributor. When in doubt a consumer can email or call the manufacturer directly to see if a deal is valid and not gray market.

MLR: Mechanics are known to be surly and independent. What do you do to keep yours in line?

GP: RESPECT.

MLR: Fuel belt. Fashion faux pas?

GP: Absolutely a faux pas. Do you see Kenyans running with Fuel Belts? Come on, I have to laugh when people put these things on to run for 40 minutes. You don’t need anything on a 40 minute run! Then again triathletes tend to spend a huge amount of money to get everything carbon and then carry 5 pounds of water on the bike. What gives here? Fast racers don’t do this. There is water on the course, just grab a freaking bottle!

While I’m on the subject of posers, I have to share a funny story. The latest tri trend is compression garments. Triathletes are showing up wearing these pre-race, during the race, and post-race. Now I understand the benefit’s of wearing the garments flying to Kona before your big race. But after the Duathlon Nationals in Richmond this year it must have been about 100 degrees and the sun was beating down. I raced when it was cooler in the morning and still almost had heat stroke. Anyway sure enough at the late afternoon awards ceremony in the hot sun there were of several posers in full compression gear. This kills me!

MLR: What are your thoughts on the mullet and its place in the pro peloton?

GP: I’m happy to still have hair. Of course growing up in the 70’s- 80’s I always had BIG hair so I’m all for the mullet.

MLR: You mentioned Bethel Cycle has a shop dog. Is he lycra friendly?

Sunnie our Sheltie has been our greeter for 10 years. Be forewarned she likes to lick the salt off of rider’s legs. She has been also known to run around the shop with carbon fiber steerer tubes.

MLR: How did you get in to the bike biz?

GP: Long story short... I was working as Kodak’s European Marketing Manger for Business Imaging and after a few years of being jet-lagged and not feeling healthy we had to decide if we were going to move to Europe. I was worried about the technology shift from silver film to digital and concerned that Kodak wasn’t positioned correctly and we would move to France and would get hung out to dry.

Just then I heard that Bethel Cycle was for sale. I knew the shop, the owners and liked the atmosphere. At some point I did really want to own my own business and settle down and get involved in a community instead of constantly traveling around the world. So I put together a business plan, convinced my wife that I wasn’t crazy (as I was leaving a very high paying job) and dove in. We recently passed 10 years as owners of the shop and I have exceeded my business plan and have more than doubled our sales. I don’t regret the move at all. Sure I don’t make as much money but our quality of life is much better.

MLR: Best selling product?

GP: HED wheels have been selling super strong this year. They are making clinchers with wider rims that defiantly improve the braking, handling and rolling resistance. And their prices are very competitive. Check out the Ardennes or Jet 6.

MLR: Best deal in the bargain bin at the moment?

GP: My iBike power meter. No wait, I threw that out.

MLR: Chamois creme: Assos, Chamois Butt'r, or Vaseline?

GP: Vaseline, are you kidding? Assos works except it is in such high demand we can’t even get some now to sell in the shop.

MLR: Where do you see the shop in five years?

GP: I think we are on the right path. I don’t think there are than many authentic bike shops left that have been around for 40 years in the same location. We have built a strong customer base and reputation so I don’t want to mess with the formula that is working now.

That said I constantly have ideas and most evolve around continuing to enhance the experiences that we can offer to our club and core customers. For example in two weeks I’m traveling to the French Alps to scout out an awesome Chalet that we hope to use as a Bethel Cycle French Alps Camp next summer. I know the owners and they like what we are doing and are making the Chalet available to BC because of our relationship.

Interested? check out www.chaletmerlo.eu

MLR: Can we get our WOW at Bethel Cycle?

GP: This is a fun little video that is a spoof on the Trek commercials that were running during the Tour de France. The first week of the Tour I kept seeing Levi and Contador saying “Ride My Bike” and I was thinking that is both lame and annoying.

So I got the idea to do a spoof on it. A pro photographer in the club Glenn Callahan and I put this together low budget in a day. We got the video up on our website the next day. Earlier this year I got an iMac and HD Camcorder and I’m learning to shoot and edit my own videos which is a great tool for our website.

MLR: Anything else you care to share?

GP: Yes, the high-end carbon race bikes that are being made today such as the Prince, SuperSIX and Madone are noticeable better that what was being made only a few years ago.

No one really talks about this, but the period from the late 1990’s to say 2007 were really an exploratory and dark period for the bike industry. Bike designers were going lighter and lighter and trusting data coming out of their CAD programs that didn’t really reflect the true stresses of the frame and fork in actual use. The net effect was at the least a poor handling bike due to a flexible front end, and at the most, catastrophic failure. I remember the first generation of carbon forks with 1” carbon fiber steerer tubes, and they were downright scary to ride. I had one break just by hitting a pothole.

Fortunately the manufacturers have learned from the recalls, warranty claims and failures and have improved the designs. Now most high end racing bikes are use a 1.5” diameter lower steerer tube in the fork which certainly increased the stiffness of the front of the bike and helps improve steering and descending stability. This is really important for heavy riders and/or for big frames.

In retrospect we have seen many design problems over the years, but Cannondale should be commended. They must have good test simulation and a good design team. Their bikes have been remarkably stout and consistent over the past 10 years.

Interview Four - Jeremy Powers

2009-08-14T19:08:00.009-04:00

For our fourth interview we give you professional cyclocrosser and roadie Jeremy Powers.

the most intimidating shot we could find.

MLR: How was the Tour De Qinghai Lake? How was China? More importantly, how was the food?

JP: Thanks for the interview Lantern Rouge. I'm not sure I've ever been Lanterne Rouge, but I've trod on thin ice, so I'm easily qualified for this!

Racing in TDQL is a double-edged sword. It's an amazing experience to be able to race and see the Tibetan highlands/Qinghai Lakes region of China, how else would I see a place like that?

I'll answer that for you: I wouldn't! So that makes it special for me. That’s also one of the reasons I race bikes, I get to meet people and see places I would never have dreamed of!

It's an eye-opener and a humbling experience to hop on a plane for 14 hours and see how people live their lives.

I would tell everyone to try and see the Tibetan highlands! It's an experience that I'll never forget and it really hits home. Hard.

The food is good food, however, in foreign countries our flimsy cycling bodies sometimes don't react how we'd like.

It's the same when Asian riders come to the states, but it is different and sometimes our stomachs get pissed and make a stink. Literally. Haha.

More times than not, when the stuff is suspect, we end up only eating rice and pasta. It kinda sucks, but people rarely get sick when they keep it simple.

MLR: What's it like in a foreign peloton? How do you communicate?

JP: Hand signals are abundant and broken down English. Of course certain
words: gruppeto, pisso and tranquilo, are all pretty common in getting by in the foreign peloton and when Europe comes to the States, same deal.

MLR: Do you own a tandem? And who would you like to ride one with?

JP: I don't own one, but if I had did, I’d probably ride it with Brad Huff in daisy dukes with the farmer tan rocked HARD.

MLR: We hear you have a 'cross coaching/camp gig this fall. Is there a 'fast' guarantee if we attend?

JP: It's already filled! But if you're on the list, I can guarantee good times, plenty of laughing, and some skills to pay the bills by the time you left!

MLR: Are you into that Euro-pro gossip? Hear anything juicy lately?

JP: I can't be bothered honestly. It's a full time job to keep up with all that. I read what everyone else does.

I check out cycling fans anonymous blog on occasion. Whoever runs that does some reading up on what the euro press is sayin’ and that's my source for un-watered down info, if I'm brave enough to want to know.

MLR: Have you seen the recent 'rock-u-mentary' Anvil? Or is hair metal not your style.

JP: No I haven't seen it, what is it??? [ed. It's good. Go see it.]

MLR: We've heard a lot about your encounters with fellow Massachusetts-ian Clinton Sparks and various rap/hip hop icons. Are you on a first name basis with any? Have any amusing anecdotes you care to share?

JP: Haha, I met Clinton Sparks through Myspace really. We met a couple times when I went to see him smash down club venues, but officially met last year in Vegas we met and grabbed some food together. We were on the same page from the get go. I sought him out because I would listen to his podcast while I was training and one day I said, "shit, I want to be friends with this guy, he seems cool and motivating!" That's kinda how it started. Right now I'm finishing up a custom mtn bike for him which he's never seen, so that will be awesome when it's all done and delivered. I met some people we hear on the radio and see on T.V, that’s pretty cool, but I'm not into getting ahead or being a groupie. I just like his style and if you've ever read an interview with Sparks it's positive and inspiring. The creativity he has goes a long way and he's impacted the way I see some things. I appreciate his style and we recently started doin’ a column in ROAD magazine called "get familiar." It's a hot column on all new music! Check it out!

MLR: Will you ever do a voiceover on Smashtime Radio?

JP: No, but that that would be pretty rad. "This is Jeremy Powers, you’re rockin’ with SMASHTIME radio! Ohhhggg!"

MLR: Your YouTube 'Lesson in Barrier Hopping' has over 17,000 views. Did you ever think you'd be so famous?

JP: Hah, if it had 1.7 million views that would be famous.

That’s pretty much exactly what I'm like in person, so if you want to know what I'm like, maybe you think I'm a clown, that should confirm it.

MLR: What are you driving these days?

I'm still rockin my 1990 Caprice! I'm waiting for a sponsor to hook me up with a car!

Although that cash for clunkers program is enticing. (Hopefully the caprice doesn't hear that, she'll break down on me)

A friend of mine told me: "Stop worrying about what you’re drivin’, look at it like, I'm cool, I'm driving this car, so I do!

MLR: Do you consider yourself a 'hustla'?

JP: Haaaha, No.

MLR: Barry Wicks was seemingly impressed by your DJing prowess. Do you have any recordings you'd like to share?

JP: I can't put anything I do out there really because it's copyright infringement.

But maybe in the future, I'll get something cool out. I think Wicks and I should combine forces...

MLR: Do you play parties?

JP: I have played out a bunch of times! I wish I could do it more honestly, but racing and dj'ing/clubbin isn't the best on the legs, ya know what I'm saying right?

If I were ever to DJ as a career though, I would bring a little bike with me and ride before my gig, then take a quick shower and just rip into it. Take that energy from my ride straight to the club.

MLR: Have you listened to Wicks' Super Sweet Mix Tape Vol. 1 or 2?

JP: Yes I heard vol.1 after Lance Armstrong tweeted about it. I hit up Mr. Wicks and I was mailed a super sweet mix.

MLR: Did you ever imagine yourself becoming a professional cyclist?

JP: Yes, that was always my goal, but I didn't know how hard it would be to actually make a living at it.

Sometimes things just happen and you have to put them on cruise control and just let take their own shape.

MLR: How often do you replace your cycling shoes (road and 'cross)?

JP: Often. Every 3 months. Lake shoes are my favorite and having them sponsor me is a bonus because I would use them even if they didn't hook me up. It's one of the only shoes that fit my fat club foot.

MLR: Do you hold any side jobs?

JP: Dj'in when time finds me...

MLR: What's your favorite non-cycling sport?

JP: I watch baseball on occasion

MLR: We like those candy raspberries and blackberries with the crunchy exterior and gummy core. What's your favorite refined sugar treat? Are you really a jelly bean kind of guy?

JP: I'll rip into Jelly Belly sours and not look back a couple times a year....

MLR: Have you ever competed in a triathlon?

JP: Have you ever seen me run?

MLR: Legs or mind? Which is your true cycling weapon?

JP: Mind, 100%. The piece of real estate between your ears will take you
farther than you ever thought your legs could imagine.

MLR: Carbon tubulars or carbon frame? Choose one.

JP: Carbon Tubies, but having a reliable frame that you can count on, whether its aluminum, steel, cro-moly etc. is what your lookin’ for.

No one HAS TO HAVE any fancy shit to make it at the highest level.

If you’re coming up, be smart with your funds and buy the equipment that gets you the most bang for your buck, stuff you can re-build when it breaks, beat the crap out of and it still begs for more.

Don't get sucked into some $5,000 dollar wheel set that are likely to break because you think you'll ride in the sand and mud better.

MLR: Who else should we interview?

JP: Dave Towle [ed. we'll try...]

MLR: Anything else you'd care to add?

JP: You only get one shot at life, live it like there’s not gonna be a tomorrow, set goals and get em'

So now it's 'The Shack'?

2009-08-07T23:15:00.003-04:00

From VeloNews: "The nationwide electronics retailer [Radio Shack] is looking to dress up its image and is recasting its stores under a new name, “The Shack.” The move will try to reposition the brand as it expands into new markets and products."

What exactly about 'The Shack' screams technology store? Furthermore, what about 'The Shack' screams professional cycling? Are they selling tea kettles, pots and pans, Mad Dog...? We'd be scared to enter such a place for fear of encountering this man:

We imagine: 'Hey hun, let's head on over to The Shack for some AA batteries and a beige corded telephone!'

Radio Shack's marketing team imagines: 'Dude, let's hit up The Shack for that sick new phone from Samsung.'

What Radio Shack's marketing team really thinks: 'There is no way in hell Radio Shack will ever become cool. My job is pointless. But I like bikes!'

We're waiting for some jersey designs, the new logo, and to see exactly how The Shack integrates Livestrong with their already stellar product lineup.

Would you buy it?

2009-08-05T21:55:00.010-04:00

So where do the folks at MLR turn for advice on bicycle mechanics?

Well, the Barnett's manuals are difficult to find (and expensive!) in printed form. The Zinn book is nice, but... it's just nice. The Park Tool instructional website / book is clinically efficient. And all those other mechanical publications are just blasé. Certainly none of these choices will tell us how to modernize our 1971 Peugeot that we bought on Craigslist for $50.00. Or the real scoop on those three speed Sturmey-Archer hubs...

For advice, spiritual and mechanical, we turn to the late Mr. Sheldon Brown, the American god of bicycle mechanics. His website holds web pages upon web pages of bicycle know-how. And it's written in his hand. Distilled and comprehensible to the most novice enthusiast yet thorough enough for those (seemingly) well-learned, but curious professional mechanics. Sheldon's database is as indispensable as it is entertaining.

We've played our share of 'Take Five' from "The Real Book" (that copyright infringing, behind-the-counter, bible of jazz standards). It got us thinking. Why not a Sheldon Brown 'fake book'. Something sold on a nod and a handshake. A book to be hidden behind the pegboards and spare part bins. A spiral bound compendium of Mr. Brown's web work. A tangible copy of knowledge that just sits, as effervescent ones and zeros, appears to us a good idea.

would you buy it?

Interview Three - Ryan Trebon

2009-08-04T08:16:00.010-04:00

And for our next interview with a real, live, professional bike racer we give you Mr. Ryan Trebon. The winner of multiple cyclocross and mountain bike national championships was kind enough to lend our meager blog a few moments of his time. Enjoy:

MLR: Barry Wicks was our first interviewee. Are you jealous?

RT: Words Can not describe how I am feeling about being slighted as your first! I'm much more gentle than Barry

MLR: Do you own a tandem? And who would you like to ride one with?

RT: No tandem in my garage, I'd ride with anyone as long as I dont have to be the stoker.

MLR: What's your saddle to handlebar drop? And how do you remain so flexible?

RT: 3-4ft. by my guesstimation. I do a lot of stretching and water aerobics

MLR: Pilates or Yoga or the Jack La Lanne Juicer?

RT: I hope I dont live to be as old as Jack La Lanne, my body wont last that long.

MLR: In 2006 you won mountain bike and 'cross nationals. When will you repeat the feat?

RT: Almost did last year. Got 2nd at MTB nats and won CX, so close. AC was just alittle faster on the downhills, damn fat kid!!!

MLR: What happens after you stop cycling? Will you become a tree farmer?

RT: I know nada about tree farming or any other botany. I wanna play in the garage all day hang out with my dog.

MLR: Will we see you on a European podium this year?

RT: I hope so, I told Barry about my theory of racing. All ya gotta do is keep banging your head against the wall for long enough and you'll eventually make a hole that you crawl thru and everything is easy breezy past that. I am getting there, wish a little faster but

MLR: Kona specializes in freeride mountain bikes. Do you own a Stinky? And where would you ride one?

RT: No Freeride bikes in my garage, I thought Kona specialized in Cyclocross bikes? Didn't they tell you that Freeriding is neither!!

MLR: Most difficult 'cross national championship? Most difficult 'cross race?

RT: Maybe the one when some guy from CO ran head on it to me. That was pretty difficult. Hardest CX race was Hoogerheide in 2007 -- soooo cold and miserable.

MLR: Could you beat Sven Nys? In a slam dunk contest?

RT: If I could dunk maybe, but he's probably better than me at that too damn it!

MLR: Why doesn't Erik Tonkin shave his legs? Is he that rugged?

RT: I guess if Erik had more hours in the day he could get around to shaving his legs, but that is one busy man.

MLR: When and where did your first real win take place? Beat anybody famous?

RT: First CX win was in NJ for the Wooden Wheels UCI race and I schooled Todd Wells

MLR: Where do you buy your pants?

RT: Lucky Brand makes some sweet 33X37in pants, hard to find, but worth the search

MLR: Contador vs. Lance vs. the Media -- your opinion:

RT: Who?

MLR: Would Jens Voigt make a good 'crosser?

RT: He is german. They make great cross dressers

MLR: We heard this question posed during some interview in cyberspace: "What's the last non-food item you consumed?"

RT: I dont know if you can call some of the energy foods out there we eat during races food, so that would be the last.

MLR: Top three favorite cyclocross courses:

RT: Koksijde, St. Wendel, Kalmthout.

MLR: Top three most memorable cyclocross races:

RT: Nationals 08, Cross Vegas 07, St. Wendel 05

MLR: Will you tell your friends about our blog?

RT: This is for a blog?

MLR: Anything else you'd care to share?

RT: Thanks for letting me spout my incomprehensible drivel for a bit.

Floyd and his real training secret.

2009-08-03T11:08:00.008-04:00

We must thank our intrepid reporter from the Southwest for providing us with today's blog fodder.

Apparently Floyd Landis (remember him?) did not take steroids during the 06' Tour. It was his homemade 'construction pipe' altitude chamber that was to blame. Or as our Southwest correspondent deems it: "Floyd's ghetto training method".

Floyd introduces the host to his invention in this excerpt from 08's "Bigger, Stonger, Faster":

More Bigger, Stronger, Faster Info

Impressive! Who would have guessed constructing a controlled altitude chamber was so simple. We particularly like the Mrs. Bucket (of Willy Wonka fame) impersonator shuffling about by Floyd's garbage cans. Is she his masseuse? His coach? His housekeeper? We wonder if this mystery woman can corroborate Floyd's chamber time.

One would imagine a cyclist of Floyd's caliber could afford more luxurious altitude simulation accommodations. Maybe a CAT altitude tent perhaps?

We give Mr. Landis' homemade construction pipe altitude chamber two red lanterns. His ingenuity, frugality, and commitment to the sport of cycling are above average.

Transparency

2009-07-31T14:06:00.006-04:00

So now it's reported that Astarloza tested positive for EPO just prior to the Tour. And who thought these guys were clean?

It seems that this whole doping debacle could be solved with just a bit of transparency. Be like Wiggins. Be cyclists we love to cheer for.

Post your blood values in and out of competition. Period.

EDITORS NOTE: Cyclocosm.com makes a good point concerning data handling -- here.

The bike for the Lanterne Rouge in us all.

2009-07-30T23:00:00.008-04:00

So you're exhausted. Dropped by the field, cramping, too little water for the next forty miles, and slowly leaking air from your shoddily glued (but stylish!) Veloflexes. You finish in 50th, panic for a moment, but then reassure yourself you're just as strong as those guys off the front. Today wasn't your day. You'll beg the official later and get those upgrade points anyhow. You are the local Lanterne Rouge.

We've all (hopefully) been there. And now there is a bike for us -- something to use when you're scoping out the Burrito joints during the latest amateur stage race. Or cruising to work (still faster than those tri guys). Load the front rack with grocery bags and that conspicuous container of Cytomax. Or just tie down the carbon tubular you're taking to get reglued. You're pro -- we know.

The 'Leather X Porteur' from Ateliers d'Embellie. Just a little something to say you've 'arrived'. Let your carbon wunderbike rest for the week. This one's got a flask under the saddle (Didn't Cadel have one of those beneath the rails of his San Marco on Ventoux?):

And it's not some lame poseur Surly flask -- this thing is custom. Sheathed in leather and tucked beneath the saddle for inaccessible accessibility. It's almost as easy to use while riding as the Cervelo P4's 'Uber-Aerobottle'.

Pedal this thing around with shaved legs and tall socks and all the babes will know you're a pro in hiding.

Robbie, we can relate -- almost.

2009-07-29T21:09:00.007-04:00

Robbie McEwen, earlier today via Twitter (in reference to his crash in late May):

"Visiting surgeon, looking good, need one screw out of leg for full function. Will do in 1 month when fracture 100% stable. Pat tend swollen."

Screws in the leg are never good. We know:

But a 2nd to 'Cav. Now, that's something we have no experience with. It seems that Robbie almost has his legs back (at 37 we're not sure how much 'legs' he's got left). And that's a good thing. Clearly Farrar, Hushovd, Boonen, Bennati et al. cannot beat the Manx Missile and his imposing lead-out train. Things are boring on the sprinting front -- we need that little man from down under to disrupt Renshaw and the rest, then, with 75 meters to go, appear from Mark's slipstream and actually challenge him to the line. Yet these are Robbie's twilight years. He does not have Cavendish's raw speed and accelaration, but thirteen years of being the 'small guy' in a very imposing peloton has to count for something. Our predicition: McEwen will beat Cavendish before the season is up.

Interview 2 - Ted King

2009-07-26T08:54:00.008-04:00

Le Tour is nearly over and the cycling world is drifting into its mid-summer lull. Not to fear! Cervélo Test Team member Ted King granted us a few minutes of his time. Enjoy:

*thanks, Cervelo

MLR: Are you really Ted King?

TK: That’s actually a great question. At first glance, yes I am Ted King. But in the King household my dad is Ted and I am Teddy. My legal name is Edward, so I’ll answer to that too. My grandfather is an Edward as is my dad, but I’m not Edward the III, because we all have different middle names. Turns out when you Google “Ted King” you’ll find some soap opera actor – so in that context I am not Ted King. But for all intents and purposes, yes, I am Ted King.

MLR: Do you own a tandem? And who would you like to ride one with?

TK: Nope, don’t own a tandem. I rode one once at a big family gathering for my grandparents’ 50th anniversary when I was about six years old, but don’t think I have since then. Hmmm, who’s a worthy riding partner…? Maybe Will Shortz. I’m a fan of crossword puzzles and he’s the self-proclaimed “Master!”

MLR: The 'Old Man in the Mountain' is now rubble. Thoughts?

TK: That was a sad day. Am I heartbroken? Errr… that’d be a stretch. I actually think more people from out of state think of the Old Man as the iconic imagine of New Hampshire than folks from in-state. I was in college when it bit the dust (pun intended), but it wasn’t one of those “I know exactly where I was at the moment I heard.” So to recap, in a word: gravity.

MLR: Have you ever made Carlos Sastre laugh?

TK: I’ve made him laugh, but I think it was more at me than with me. I haven’t spoken Spanish since high school, but I’m having a blast practicing with my language skills with the Spanish teammates and staff. I’m rusty at best, but I think I’ve botched it enough to get at least a chuckle out of him.

MLR: Is your life more aero' now that you're with Cervélo?

TK: I’ve always been a pretty calculated and organized person. Generally speaking, regardless of what it is, I like to streamline and git ‘er done! I ask, why accomplish just one task when you can tackle three at a time?! So since joining the team I’ve started to wear a skinsuit and time trial helmet all throughout the day to really ensure that I’m at my aero best while taking on life’s tasks.

MLR: Does the Rotor crankset really make you faster?

TK: Heck yes! At least I think so anyway. My thoughts are that if the crank is good enough for Carlos, it’s good enough for me. Seriously though, I don’t notice anything different about the crank while riding – no awkward pedaling, no pain, no nothin’ – just feels normal. So if even half the claims are true, such as less fatigue, stronger pedaling through the power phase, etc, then I’m sold!

MLR: Do you still train in New Hampshire in winter? And have those 20 degree days made you Boonen-beating tough?

TK: I do train in NH’s winters still, but I’m getting soft in my old age. I usually only do it when I have to, like when I’m home for the winter holidays. To be honest, I return home from those rides and I’m just angry. I can do 20 degrees easy. Heck I can do (and have done on many many occasions) negative temperatures. As any New England cyclist will tell you, it’s the combination of cold and wet that makes winter riding challenging. The absolute worst is when you come home, get in the shower, and have tears streaming down your face because your fingers and toes are agonizingly painful. Until you’ve experienced it yourself, you have no idea.

I remember one parents’ weekend in February up in Vermont when my folks came to visit me at college and there was literally a blizzard outside, yet I was riding my bike for three hours. My parents called to see where I was as they drove into town and they were flabbergasted that I was on my bike. Yes, flabbergassed.

I guess the Boonen and other snowy white substance jokes are a little passé now, so I’ll skip it.

MLR: Do you train with power? If so, please put us amateurs to shame and divulge your best five minutes in watts/kg.

TK: I once recorded a 5 minute max of a hair over one million watts per kilogram, but rumor was the machine wasn’t calibrated correctly. So let’s just suffice it to say that it’s more than yours.

MLR: Is Thor Hushovd intimidating?

TK: Until you meet him, yes. But once you’ve met him, he’s an amazing guy! Incredibly nice and extraordinarily humble. He has every right to have an ego the size of Norway, but he’s totally down to earth.

MLR: Cooking is one of your hobbies -- what's your favorite recipe? What's your favorite cookbook?

TK: Pumpkin pie. I got into cooking when I realized it’s fairly easy to make what you want to eat. I think pumpkin pie is basically heaven on earth, plus really simple to make. In fact, just last night I roasted a pumpkin so that I can make a pie sometime soon. It’s hard to get canned pumpkin like back in the states, but this makes for a better pie anyway.

The Joy of Cooking is basically the Bible of American cuisine. That takes the cake… again, pun fully intended.

MLR: If you were to compete in Kitchen Stadium which Iron Chef would you choose to compete against? And why?

TK: I’m seriously blown away that they make gourmet five-course meals in sixty minutes. No doubt about it, I’d get pummeled. But you might as well lose to the best, so I’d pick Bobby Flay. Or if they do guest appearances, I’d chose Giada de Laurentiis for obvious reasons.

MLR: What would you say to James Beard if he were still alive?

TK: I’d give him a high five, say thank you for revolutionizing the American culinary world, and ask him to please cook me a great meal. The guy had the first cooking show on TV, which was pretty innovative, so I’d sit down and have him critique Iron Chef or Top Chef – both great shows.

MLR: You went to Middlebury College. We went to Hamilton College. Does that make us intellectual equals?

TK: Nope. Middlebury trumps all.

MLR: Do you own Bissell vacuum? If so, which model?

TK: I did. It was the Bissell Healthy Home. It now belongs to someone in Colorado who found it for sale on Craigslist. In truth, it was a great vacuum – you can find my review of it here: http://www.iamtedking.missingsaddle.com/2008/01/this-thing-sucks/ But as a professional cyclist and professional nomad, I couldn’t warrant keeping it.

MLR: Which is tougher: the Exeter Criterium or the Giro?

TK: Oooh, another doozie of a question. Since I’m yet to claim victory at either event, I’d say it’s nearly a draw. The Giro was a little longer though, so maybe that gets the nod as tougher.

MLR: Do you get free hamburgers at Burger King?

TK: You’d think so, right?! No. Not yet anyway. Why, do you know someone in management? [ed. we wish we did.]

MLR: Anything else on your mind?

TK: Rock and roll hoochie coo.

We thank Mr. King for his words. And wish him the best of luck in the second half of the season.

Don't worry. There is better stuff to come.

2009-07-25T22:56:00.005-04:00

But for now we'll amuse ourselves with Bobke twitter quotations. He is the ultimate cycling philosopher. A two-wheeled Confucius.

a rare photo from 7-11's team bonding camp

"will googling google make the internet vanish" 8:08 Jul. 10

"Across the camargue they gypsies of pain will fly, watch the mistral winds blow the peloton to pieces" 7:32 Jul. 6

This entry is actually pretty poetic: "on fri did 5 plus hours with lance, took until today to recover enough to twitter, while i was passed out on the couch lance wasted the field at nevada city dang" 4:30 Jun. 22

"there can be no justice without a whisper of treason" 3:44 Jul. 21

"funny that the full belly leads to the empty spirit" 7.29 Jul. 18

"The sharpest thorn is the first to be pruned but also tears the most fabric" 6:54 May 20

"the rest day during a grand tour is like a breath of air to a drowning man" 11:38 May 18

We could publish a thick volume with more and more and more quotations. But we think the public just wouldn't understand. Thanks Bobke.

Radio Shack? Really?

2009-07-24T20:30:00.006-04:00

Does the pairing of Mr. Armstrong and the 'Shack' sound odd to anyone else? Just how did Radio Shack become the 'all sport' sponsor of one of the world's most recognizable athletes? It just doesn't sit right.

Our memories of Radio Shack stretch back to the distant corners of childhood. It was then we strolled by displays of big button telephones and remote control boats in the store's windows at the aging local mall and felt an inexplicable sadness. The place was depressing. Filled with electronics that, three years later, would just clog some pour sot's bedroom closet, broken, without batteries, and still ugly.

Granted there are some odd cycling team sponsors already in existence -- Skil? FDJ? Astana? We think Armstrong should take a cue from the Cervelo Test Team and create a fully integrated unit - race, product development, promotion of the sport, etc... (What happened to the Livestrong development team?)

We hope the jerseys look good.

Check it: http://www.teamradioshack.com/getready/

Ventoux Predictions

2009-07-24T20:09:00.004-04:00

Ventoux is a big deal. What will happen on its moony slopes tomorrow? Predictions abound! Will Contador ride away from the bunch? Will Sastre make good on his word and triumph over Astana? Will the Schlecks tag-team Alberto and pull him deep into the pain cave? Who knows?

But we can predict, with great certainty, the following:

Garmin will not win the Tour. Cadel will climb with his head tilted at an awkward angle. Alberto will remind us of that other stone-faced Astana enigma Alexander Vinokourov. Lance will climb well, garner much praise, and not win the stage. Bradley Wiggins will still have an incredibly British sounding name. Phil Ligget will get excited.

The Schlecks are Skinny

2009-07-22T22:33:00.012-04:00

Certainly some drama today. Thor and his green jersey. Sastre and Cadel (even further) off the map. Lance showing that he can get dropped, attack and look 'lean & thick' at the same time...

it's a lean burger...

And those Schlecks. What a display of cycling class. Our hearts rang loudly with the bells of adulation watching those two decimate the Astana juggernaut. Even Stone Cold Alberto (he wrestles in the off season) looked pained. There is something truly impressive about the way those two climb -- fast, smooth, and quiet. Contador looked like an overstimulated Jackrabbit by comparison -- especially during his out of the saddle efforts.

We must acquire the footage of today's final hour. The unadulerated maximum effort of Andy, Frank, Alberto -- all of the first six finishers, really -- was the most impressive of the Tour. The descent into Le Grand-Bornand showed more on-the-rivet riding and tactical gesticulation than we've seen in the last two and-a-half weeks of racing.

And we hear Bruyneel instructed Contador not to attack Col de la Colombière! But sir, where would all the action come from? Sorry Johan, but we do not like boring racing. We here at MLR like our Tour hot and spicy!

Get Well Soon, Jens.

2009-07-21T21:52:00.008-04:00

And then it happened:

Our man from Germany had quite the scare today as he tumbled from his Tarmac onto, well, the tarmac at 80kph. From the looks of it (and Cyclocosm's in-depth analysis) Mr. Voigt had a bad case of 'slippery bar tape syndrome'. We wish you the best of luck in your recovery, Jens. Remember if the doctors give you grief about returning to training too soon you can always "look around for a victim to punch."

We will be sure to do a thorough review of the latest bar tapes in the coming weeks so as not to have our loyal readers fall prey to a funky product malfunction like our friend Mr. Voigt. Our advice, for now, is best represented graphically:

don't forget the EpiPen

The First Interview

2009-07-20T22:25:00.007-04:00

My Lantern Rouge is just over a month old, and naturally we'd thought it time to celebrate. So we brought out the big guns (journalistically speaking): our first interview with a real-life professional cyclist.

It's Mr. Barry 'Mother-Fucking' Wicks:

07' SSCXWC Podium Shot

MLR: Are you really 'too tall'?

BW: That depends on your perspective I guess. I am too tall for somethings, like Vespa scooters, short inseam designer denim and Japan, but and not too tall for others, like short red heads, big wheels and Espresso.

MLR: Do you own a tandem? And who would you like to ride one with?

BW: I don't own a tandem, but if I did and could pick anyone living or dead to ride one with I would choose Einstein, because he is smarter than me and looks good in tweed.

MLR: Many domestic pros / fans are familiar with your 'Super Sweet Mix Tape', what was the inspiration behind the mix?

BW: Pretty much anyone who is anyone knows about my Super Sweet Mix Tape and also about my Second Super Sweet Mix tape. I basically just asked myself "Does Lance Armstrong want me to make him a mix tape?" to which I replied "probably not" but I made him one anyway. The rest is, as they say, history.

MLR: Any chance you'll have a European tour?

BW: Europeans have no taste in music, so they would probably hate my Mix Tapes

MLR: Do you find yourself engaged in battles of musical wit with uber-DJ and fellow 'crosser Jeremy Powers?

BW: There really is no comparison. DJ Pows uses things like turntables and microphones to make his mix tapes and is tight with Clinton Sparks and Lil Wayne. My mix tapes are more along the lines of what a prepubescent 14 year old with a boom box scrapes together to try and impress girls. So my mix tapes are obvously way better.

MLR: Have you ever met Dave Zabriskie? Could you beat him in a staring contest?

BW: I have never met Dave Zabriskie and I doubt if I could beat him in a staring contest. My eyes get dry really quickly.

MLR: VeloNews.com aptly touts you as a 'cyclocross star'. Do you think of yourself as a 'somebody'?

BW: I am Barry mother fucking Wicks

MLR: Do you have groupies? If not, would you like some?

BW: One time some girls asked me to autograph their copy of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", or maybe it was "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" I cant exactly remember, both are excellent books by the way, but other than that, I don't have any groupies that I am aware of as I don't think that that really counted.

MLR: How do you get so fast?

BW: Erik Tonkin showed me how when I was younger, but I dont remember right now exactly how you do it. I think it involves riding 5 hours in the rain and then returning home unable to take off your shoes or helmet because your fingers have turned into frozen nubs and then not being able to go pee for 6 hours because you got so dehydrated and then only eating carrot cake for dinner. Then I think you have to do that over and over again for a few years on a regular basis and then you become fast. Or dead. Because that two hour cross country race is pretty hard, but not as hard as that time when you rode for 5 hours in the rain then couldnt take your shoes off and had to sit in the shower in full riding kit for 45 minutes to warm up and invented a handlebar mounted minurature oven to bake chocolate chip cookies in while you are riding so you didnt bonk as often.

MLR: Do these measurements factor into your training plan(s):V02 Max? Watts/Kg? SST?

BW: I mostly just stick with this:

e^{ix} = \cos x + i\sin x \!

MLR: Should us amateurs be concerned about such numbers?

BW: I think most amateurs should just concern themselves with getting Rad. Once you can get Rad at a moments notice and without thought, then maybe move on up to the above equation. I pretty much just stick to getting Rad, and then as a last resort use the equation, but in reality it is pretty over rated.

MLR: How many GUs do you consume yearly?

BW: I don't really know, but luckily I have the useful formula seen above, so I plugged in a few numbers I came up with in my head, did the calculations and came up with a definitive answer: 678.946

MLR: 09' cyclocross nationals in your home state. Thoughts?

BW: I am excited about it. Oregon is where I learned how to race bikes. I like Oregon and I like racing there. My mom will be there too, so I will probably win.

MLR: Any chance we'll see you atop a European podium this season?

BW: No

MLR: All these Euro-pros seem to have custom shoes, bikes, and helmets. What would your dream kit look like?

BW: A tweed suit? I don't really know. I just go with the flow, because you know, at the end of the day we are all just gonna head home and roll in the hay, play all night, and shred the gnar, so as long as that is happening, I will wear what ever they put in my hands.

MLR: We are just an unknown upstart cycling blog; why did you accept our invitation to interview you?

BW: Because you guys have a iconic and ironic blog name, and I like that. Plus, I would probably grant an interview to just about anyone who asked.

MLR: Anything else you'd like to share?

BW: Not right now

Many thanks and hearty congratulations to Barry on his recent top 10 at USA Mountain Bike Nationals. We hope to see much more from Mr. Wicks as the weather turns chilly, nights get longer, and us roadies begin to pick 'cross barrier splinters from our shorn shins.

Didn't Carlos Sastre win some famous race in France last year?

2009-07-20T19:45:00.010-04:00

Thanks for backing us up, Carlos.

Posted on CyclingNews.com are some provocative quotations delivered by Mr. Sastre at a press conference today. They tell, outright, what has been on the mind of many a cycling fan (and pundit) for much of Le Tour.

"What is boring? There's no attacks, no tactics, nothing… Just a strong team, one rider – one of the best in the world – will win the race, that's all."

Yes, it has been a bit of an Astana love-fest.

Carlos also made the point that he has not been treated like a Tour De France champion by the media. And, come to think of it, he hasn't. Even we here at MLR find ourselves succumbing to the Lance/Contador media blitz.

We do think, however, Carlos will shine like the genuine champion he is once the mountains hit in earnest tomorrow.

Contador, oh Contador...

2009-07-19T17:07:00.009-04:00

While Alberto Contador's climb to Verbier was fundamentally impressive (that man sure can accelarate) it left the staff of MLR underwhelmed. It's difficult to criticize such a powerful performance, but there was simply no drama in it. Maybe it's Contador's supreme composure (think: Menchov or Evans) or the relative lack of his presence in English speaking interviews and media coverage. We just cannot seem to relate to the man. He lacks the outright soul of a Fabian Cancellara, Andy Schleck, Mark Cavendish, or even the soft-spoken Carlos Sastre. We try to take such a seeming emotional vaccuum as 'not enough information' on our part -- but we love a rider who wears his heart on his sleeve!

Lance Armstrong, once a model for near robotic success (and once not an MLR favorite), appears to be gaining humility and relatability as he ages. This could be, again, a result of the absolute media crush and Lance's adoption of various social networking avenues (Twitter, the Livestrong.com videos, etc...) -- we could be witness to a Lance that had always been there. But we'd like to think something has changed. With the pressure of actually winning a Tour gone, Armstrong may now embrace the race as an 'experience' and take us along for the ride.

Jens and Bernard

2009-07-19T09:50:00.009-04:00

We here at MLR adore Mr. Jens 'Turbo Diesel' Voigt. Rarely an outright victor, Jens assumes the role of uber-domestique and breakaway specialist with aplomb (even though his facial expressions may display otherwise). His attitude is rivaled by very few -- the appeal of his cut-and-dry interview style is heigthened by his German accent and selfless humor.

The following excerpt from a VeloNews interview typifies why we are so fond of Jens. Here he is reacting to the innefficient flat change on stage 14:

"I was looking around for a victim to punch, I was cooking in my own anger and frustration.

"I was just waiting for someone to make a stupid comment to me so I could release my anger.

"I had a cameraman filming me on the back of a bike, I rode up to him and
said: 'hey, this is a pretty shitty situation, why don't you just leave me alone with my misery?'

"I was close to punching him off his bike … but I didn't, of course."

Thanks Jens. We quite enjoyed reading that. One could not imagine robo-Contador reacting so frankly to a situation that must have legitimately sucked. It is, as the french say, c'est la vie. An attack on stage 19 perhaps?

And thank you Mr. Hinault for removing the unwanted elements from the Tour's podium. The A.S.O need not hire any security forces for its most prestigeous stage race as you'll do just fine (hasn't this been two in as many years?):

remember to use those thighs Bernard!

Thanks Levi

2009-07-18T10:52:00.005-04:00

For your charisma, hard work, and unabashed Twitter posting. We really do want to see your surgery as it happens...

(We didn't think that Blackberry's were allowed in the OR.)

Paging Mr. Boonen

2009-07-16T10:31:00.017-04:00

Anyone know what happened to a certain Mr. Boonen? We distinctly remember a bit of controversy surrounding his inclusion in this year's Tour. Now that the TDF is almost through with its sprint stages and Boonen a near no-show, we are forced to wonder why there was such a stir to have him included.

We were hoping for some epic battles between the man from Quickstep and the little man from the Isle of Man. Instead that little man has won four stages with little contest from anybody but our favorite Garmin sprinter and the god of thunder.

Our intrepid MLR reporters have, in fact, accquired a recent publicity photo of those three 'taunting' Mr. Boonen.

Could this recently leaked photo be the reason we have not seen Boonen contest a sprint in this year's Tour? Probably.

There are other theories behind Tommeke's invisibility, however. Just take a look at some recent comments on the Cyclingnews.com forum. Our personal favorites are: "Alien abduction." And, "Maybe Boonen hasn't the balls for a Tour sprint without the coke on board. Maybe it's a courage enhancing substance for him?"

We wonder if the Champs D'Elysees will motivate Boonen to actually get out of the saddle and sprint. There aren't too many more chances for the big man from Belgium.

Total and utter plagarism

2009-07-15T20:41:00.004-04:00

Today was busy. Cavendish won (again). Nothing of significant note to report.

Not to fret! Our favorite cycling blog Cyclocosm.com had a truly MLR worthy post today:

"Yes, it sounds like a grade school joke (”hey, wanna join the wee-wee fan club?”) but that’s the official name Bbox Telecom rider William Bonnet’s fan club. You might think, as a middling rider on a middling team, that gatherings of M. Bonnet’s supporters would be small and reserved. You would be dead wrong:"

Mr. Bonnet, the sprinter from Bbox, is placed 161st (as of stage 11) -- only nine spots from the coveted lanterne. His fan club, it seems, is more than ready for his ascension to greatness. He may even beat our new Garmin favorite: Danny Pate.

TDF Detour: Barry Wicks

2009-07-14T22:22:00.005-04:00

One of the intrepid MLR reporters stumbled upon an interesting cyclo-diary while perusing the annals of VeloNews this morning. Barry Wicks, the Lanterne Rouge extraordinaire of European cyclocross, has a new bit of writing which chronicles his love of Canada Dry Club Soda and mountain bike racing. Wicks, it seems, cannot get enough of the bubbly tonic. We wonder if Mr. Evans of a certain team Lotto could not benefit from a sip or two -- he always looks so pained! Cadel could learn from Barry -- he must think, while attacking those Astana boys up Ventoux: "My thirst cannot be quenched." Thirst for victory, that is...

"My brain does not function correctly anymore," says Wicks.