Posts
The Arkansas Traveler 100: My first 100 mile run
5 months ago
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Giro d'Italia Live and Free
Click here to watch the Giro d'Italia live, free. (And in Italian! How awesome is that???)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Last 2k of 17th stage
Notice how Ongarato, the Milram guy, does a lead-out only to realize that Zabel is not on his wheel. Notice also how Bettini gets squished between the pack and the outside of the last turn and how, miraculously, he doesn't crash into the fence. These guys know how to handle a bike...
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
A view of the Plan de Corones course
A view of the course of the Plan de Corones time trial (gravel section only). Via steephill.tv
(The dude riding the course wears the exact same Rudy Project helmet I use.)
(The dude riding the course wears the exact same Rudy Project helmet I use.)
Sunday, May 25, 2008
What to bring to a race
This is a list of things to bring to a race. It was posted originally by Charles Biro on UC Vélo Café.
-Race clothes, including shorts, jersey, skin suit, arm and leg warmers, socks, gloves, rain jacket
-warm up and cool down clothes - jacket / tights
-helmet
-shoes
-glasses
-bottles for warm up / race / post race
-food pre-race / race / post race (I always pack food because I don't want to be scrambling to find some place open when I should be warming up -- I've learned that lesson too many times.)
-HR monitor / strap / computer
-trainer (plus front wheel prop and iPod)
-license
-pump
-tools
-cash / checkbook / phone / wallet / keys
-sunscreen
-towel
-spare wheels
-race flier / map / directions
I would add
-coins (for the road tolls)
-a large bottle of water, aside from the water bottles (there's no such thing as too much extra water)
-an extra set of racing clothes
-health insurance card
-chamois cream/jelly (for those who use such things)
-sugary drink/sports recovery drink (to avoid the sugar crash at the end of the race)
-spare tubes
-Race clothes, including shorts, jersey, skin suit, arm and leg warmers, socks, gloves, rain jacket
-warm up and cool down clothes - jacket / tights
-helmet
-shoes
-glasses
-bottles for warm up / race / post race
-food pre-race / race / post race (I always pack food because I don't want to be scrambling to find some place open when I should be warming up -- I've learned that lesson too many times.)
-HR monitor / strap / computer
-trainer (plus front wheel prop and iPod)
-license
-pump
-tools
-cash / checkbook / phone / wallet / keys
-sunscreen
-towel
-spare wheels
-race flier / map / directions
I would add
-coins (for the road tolls)
-a large bottle of water, aside from the water bottles (there's no such thing as too much extra water)
-an extra set of racing clothes
-health insurance card
-chamois cream/jelly (for those who use such things)
-sugary drink/sports recovery drink (to avoid the sugar crash at the end of the race)
-spare tubes
Monday, May 19, 2008
Movies about cycling or bicycles
Jacques Tati, in "Jour de f�te"
Here's a list of movies about cycling or bicycles. In some of them bicycles play a really secondary part (did you know that Goldeneye or Tomorrow Never Dies were movies about bicycles!?). But all the important ones are there, I think, up until 2007. I think we can consider the list comprehensive.
Here's a list of movies about cycling or bicycles. In some of them bicycles play a really secondary part (did you know that Goldeneye or Tomorrow Never Dies were movies about bicycles!?). But all the important ones are there, I think, up until 2007. I think we can consider the list comprehensive.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Matteson practice crits
UPDATE (5/18/2008): the practice crits are temporarily suspended due to construction work on the course. Check the website for updates.
I want to bring the Matteson practice crits to people's attention. This is a series of crits that takes place in an access road around a factory, in Matteson, IL. Matteson is about 40 minutes away from Chicago, by car. The event is held on Tuesdays at 6 pm. Check out the website.
Depending on hours of sunlight, they hold two or three crits on any given Tuesday. The first one is about 15 laps, the second one is about 40 laps, and the last one, if it's not too dark to keep riding, is either 10 or 15 laps.
They split riders into two groups, A and B. The A's start first, followed by the B's shortly after. In theory, if you're a cat4 or 5, the officials will make you do the B race. After a while, when you've proven that you are a safe and fast rider, they'll let you do the A race. (I was lucky to know someone at the event who could attest that I was strong enough to start with the A's right away, a year ago.)
Good things about the event:
a) Good atmosphere.
b) Safe course.
c) Very low racing fees.
d) Good cornering practice. Since the course has four corners, you end up doing over 200 corners in one evening.
Not-so-good things:
a) Easy corners. It's a flat rectangle with a wide road and excellent pavement. You can zoom by the corners; you don't even have to stop pedaling.
b) Riders are quite less aggressive than in a real race, because there's nothing at stake.
I want to bring the Matteson practice crits to people's attention. This is a series of crits that takes place in an access road around a factory, in Matteson, IL. Matteson is about 40 minutes away from Chicago, by car. The event is held on Tuesdays at 6 pm. Check out the website.
Depending on hours of sunlight, they hold two or three crits on any given Tuesday. The first one is about 15 laps, the second one is about 40 laps, and the last one, if it's not too dark to keep riding, is either 10 or 15 laps.
They split riders into two groups, A and B. The A's start first, followed by the B's shortly after. In theory, if you're a cat4 or 5, the officials will make you do the B race. After a while, when you've proven that you are a safe and fast rider, they'll let you do the A race. (I was lucky to know someone at the event who could attest that I was strong enough to start with the A's right away, a year ago.)
Good things about the event:
a) Good atmosphere.
b) Safe course.
c) Very low racing fees.
d) Good cornering practice. Since the course has four corners, you end up doing over 200 corners in one evening.
Not-so-good things:
a) Easy corners. It's a flat rectangle with a wide road and excellent pavement. You can zoom by the corners; you don't even have to stop pedaling.
b) Riders are quite less aggressive than in a real race, because there's nothing at stake.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Something I read
I read this yesterday and I was wondering what you guys think:
When riding in a group, keep your front wheel 12 inches behind the wheel in front of you. If the gap gets narrower than six inches:
a) Soft-pedal, don't coast. If this is not enough to keep you more than six inches behind, then
b) Coast. If this is not enough, then
c) Move slightly to one side and lift your upper body, so that air resistance slows you down. But don't let your front wheel overlap with the rear wheel of the person in front of you.
Do not touch your brakes, unless it's an emergency or the group is coming to a halt.
What do you guys think?
When riding in a group, keep your front wheel 12 inches behind the wheel in front of you. If the gap gets narrower than six inches:
a) Soft-pedal, don't coast. If this is not enough to keep you more than six inches behind, then
b) Coast. If this is not enough, then
c) Move slightly to one side and lift your upper body, so that air resistance slows you down. But don't let your front wheel overlap with the rear wheel of the person in front of you.
Do not touch your brakes, unless it's an emergency or the group is coming to a halt.
What do you guys think?
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