No matter how I feel

No matter how I feel about the state of cycling- you got to send some positive vibes to Saul Raisin. As one who crashed this past season, although no where as severe as Saul's crash, it always feels good to be back on the bike.

6 months after the crash that put him in a coma, he's back in Europe riding and training, even climbing up some Cols in Monaco.

So, good luck Saul and may the wind be at your back.
http://velonews.com/race/int/articles/10951.0.html

I don't care..anymore

I was going to write a post about the UCI's efforts at Worlds to combat doping which included some interesting things. For example, teams would be suspended for 4 weeks if they had 3 positive tests over a 2 year period. Sounds like a good move, blah blah blah... but then I started thinking, you know what- I don't care.
I don't care about the Vuelta.
I don't care that Bettini won Worlds.
I don't care that Basso might get cleared.
I don't care about Ullrich and whatever team won't sign him
I don't care about Hincapie winning the US championship
or that he got crashed in Belgium/Luxemburg- wherever
I don't care about Landis (anymore)
I don't care about Hamilton (anymore)
I don't care who might play Lance in his bio-pic
I don't care that my subscription to Cycle Sport is almost up.

Oooohhhhh- but what about this- Cannondale's new full carbon MTB...



Sub 25 pds., 110 mm of travel, front and back. Almost enough to get me to go full suspension.










But I remain a dinosaur- riding my hard tail until my kidneys bleed and my back aches.
If its too loud- your too damn old.

Speaking of carbon- here's some more- now isn't that purty.

Carbon carbon everywhere- look below. I just cannot help myself









And now a poem to the one we know and love-













Ode to Carbon
Oh, carbon, how I long for thee
Your strength and versatility
Frames, seats and even cranks
Airplanes, the space shuttle, what's next... tanks?
So stiff and yet so light
Be careful with those bolts, not too tight.
Bonded or moncoque construction
Trek, Colnago, Isaac... Newton

The horror!

A headline today read "Starbucks raises prices of most coffee drinks by five cents." And raised their bean prices by .50 per pound.

What is the world coming to? Starbuck's- the leader in excellently prepared coffee drinks- raising their prices??? The horror! That's 5 cents per drink- 2 or 3 drinks per day is 15 cents a day- $1.05 a week- that's almost $55 a year. At 50 cents a pound- that's 50 cents a week- that's another $26 a year- My Lord- that's $81 total a year more just to support my habit- my addiction. Mmmmm coffee, coffee, coffee, java- cappuccino.

<= Anyone remember this character from MAD TV- Java Man- That's me, less the buggin out eyeballs. Java java java. Sweet nectar of the gods. But, $81 more a year- hell that's a set of tires or maybe 2 sets if I can get the super down low bro deal. What ever will I do?
*Please read this with the appropriate sarcastic tone. Support your local coffee shops, 'cuz when their gone- Starbuck's usually lame burnt coffee will be all that is left. Drink their coffee, listen to their music, live their, sorry your life.

Heavy times

Some things I read about today:

As the voters go to the polls this fall, many of the electronic machines aren't working correctly- to the point that votes will not be counted, many votes will not be counted.

A woman was dragged behind a car until she was dead.

The US has been holding an AP photographer for 5 mos. in Iraq without charging him with any crimes.

The US has 14,000 people in secret CIA prisons in several countries.

Ipod heavy rotation 9/19/06

The Who "Quadraphenia"
Metallica "Ride the Lightning"
Rush "2112"

It Is Talk Like a Pirate Day

Avast there, me maties. Once again, 'tis talk like a Pirate Day. Me thinks there be plenty of grog for ye all. Arrgh, the wind has been blowing so and the cold this morning - nearly froze me arse off.

Judgment Day for Jan and the rest of us

So, we will soon know if any of the blood taken in Spain is that of Jan Ullrich.
"The SÃddeutsche Zeitung reported that the investigators took DNA samples from Ullrich's house in Switzerland, which will be compared with certain of the blood plasma found in Fuentes' office."

Geez- go away on your honeymoon and then read in the papers that the Man is at your house plastic baggin' samples of your hair left in the tub drain.

"My wife Sara and I are deeply affected by the search and confiscations, which have been thoroughly reported in the media. Because of these events we have broken off our honeymoon and returned home," Ullrich said on his website, www.janullrich.de. "My attorneys have been instructed to discuss the case with the prosecutors in Bonn."

I bet you're "deeply affected." More like- "god damn, son of a b*tch, f*ck, shit, crap..." Or the equivalent in German. If there is a match- he gone. Career over- disgraced.

But, then there's still a couple hundred other athletes alleged to have been involved, of which only 50 or so were cyclists. How long before the police are gathering DNA samples from all over Europe and comparing them to the blood? Will they continue after they have caught the cyclists? One would hope so. The doping problem is not just an issue in cycling, but all professional sports. Track, soccer, football, baseball- the only difference is that cycling tests a hell of a lot more than any other sport.

When all of these athletes have been identified then we will have to answer the question "Who is responsible?" It's not as easy as saying the riders- they make the choice. Yes, that's a big part of it. But the problem goes deeper than that. What about the teams, the sponsors etc. that demand wins. That throw milllions of dollars at these guys yo basically play games. And, do we as fans bear any responsibility? Have we placed unrealistic expectations on them- to win- to be fast- to win the tour a ga-billion times? To hit 60, 70 80 home runs.

So you'll be giving all the money back, right?

<< "Oh me oh my, I just can't bear it any longer... I must confess my sins"








Today, it has been reported that 2 US Postal riders admitted to EPO use during theit careers.

From cyclingnews.com:
"In an interview with the New York Times, two former riders with Lance Armstrong's 1999 US Postal team admitted that they took drugs to help prepare for the Tour de France that year. Frankie Andreu and one other rider, who wished to remain anonymous "because he said he did not want to jeopardize his job in cycling" said that they wanted to come clean because doping and its denial are damaging the sport. "

Are we supposed to applaud? How about coming clean earlier.. like even 5 years ago? What about the damage you've done?

If you really want to come clean- tell us how you got it, who administered it, how did you pass the controls?

Oh yeah, while you're at it, how about giving your salary and any prize money you won to a worthy charity you f*cking cheater. I guess coming clean now is better than never, but please don't expect us to embrace your new found honesty.

Now that he's admitted it, can't the UCI ban him... please ban them all.

New tattoo

The new tattoo is finished and healed. Big John did some awesome work. A total of 5.5 hours of needle time. Time to start designing the next one.

What's your pimp name?

saw this at Brooks' page- pretty funny - give it a try
That's Mr. Luv to you.

Your Pimp Name Is...

Pimp Daddy Luv

What's Your Pimp Name?

More on Pump Tracks

O.k.- here's a link to a pretty comprehensive site re: pump tracks.

http://www.leelikesbikes.com/build-your-own-pump-track.html

<<---Look at this! We could fly around these corners!

I can always use more work on my cornering! Here's a great quote from Lee:

"Mountain crossers should do three-lap time trials. Downhillers should keep it flowing for 10 laps. XC racers can keep rolling until the other guys kick them out. For head-to-butt fun, start two riders on opposite ends and let them pursue each other. The guy who gets caught loses. Switch directions. Rest. Repeat."
We could fun for hours on this thing. So, I'm asking again- someone with a yard- come on - Build it and we will come.

Ipod heavy rotation 9/1/06

The Who- Quadrophenia
The Clash- The Clash
Foo Fighters- One by One
Fela Kuti- The Underground Spritual Game

Build me a pump track

So you ask what is a pump track, well- check out this month's issue of Dirt Rag- basically a pump track is a dirt track with bermed turns that is only about 50 ft. by 50 ft. They suggest that the turns be built at a 70 degree angle- damn! In between the turns are jumps, bumps, table tops etc. Riders can get going as fast as 20-25 mph. What a great option when you can't make it out to the trails. So, come on- Tony, Starbuck- someone with a yard- please, please, please let's build one.