11 posts tagged “cycling”
It feels so good to get back on the bike. The wind, the rhythmic motion, getting outside and seeing how big the world is, feeling the tension in my legs even as the tension in my mind relaxes. I've missed this.
There really is nothing like a good bike ride. I really wasn't feeling it to start, I was kinda down and there had been an event that made me kind of depressed. Plus it was windy and kinda cold.
But today I ended up having a lot more power and energy than I thought I would. I hadn't eaten anything for lunch, and so that was a little tough, but I ate a cliff bar and had some of those little gummy energy block things at various points during the ride.
We went up Mt. Eden and then up Pierce Rd. This was my first major climb! And yeah, it was fucking hard, but I did it and I didn't do it all that badly. At one point there was this place where it was at a 13%ish grade and I had to get up out of the saddle to keep going, and every pedal stroke felt like my last...but I made it up.
I'm pretty happy with my performance actually. I feel really good for having done it.
Overall: 22 miles (not too long) with about a 1600 ft total ascent.
The only good thing to come out of this is that now a Discovery rider is in the lead. But I wouldn't want to win because the guy ahead of me got disqualified. Talk about a downer.
Reform is definitely needed, I just wish it didn't all come out during the biggest race of the year, the one everyone bases their whole opinion of cycling on.
Just what the sport needs.
How stupid do these guys have to be? I mean seriously, Vino, if you're going to cheat, why pick a method that you *know* they'll be testing for? I understand that your poor little ego is hurt because you were the favorite to win the Tour this year, but you're losing big time. You needed to win the time trial to convince yourself you're still good. But you didn't just boost your ego, Vino. You contributed to ruining the sport, and when it is already vulnerable! How is the average cycling fan, let alone the world at large, supposed to react to this?
My reaction is very much like cyclist David Millar's:
David Millar was the first rider to react to the news: "Jesus Christ - there you go, that's my quote," he blurted out. "What timing, huh? This is just f***ing great."
Millar broke down into tears when he was asked by British journalist Jeremy Whittle if he was all right, saying, "I just feel like crying right now."
I did a photo shoot with Rico's bike this weekend. Here are some photos of his baby! What do you think?
Hilarious!
The only real reason I went was because Rico was working there at the Ritchey booth. It was fun though! I love being in that sort of atmosphere, where everyone bikes and everyone loves bikes!
We talked to a lot of people, guys from all the major companies and a bunch of pro-level racers. We also got a bunch of free stuff including socks, bike tools, tshirts, hats, triflow, etc. Lots of fun. The only events I actually got to watch were the BMX and air competitions, mainly because they were in the actual tradeshow section.
The weather sucked on Saturday. Raining and windy and gross. Luckily I didn't get there until the rain stopped, but there were still minilakes in the booths and bikers covered in mud. Sunday was much nicer. Sunny, but still windy. It's amazing how you don't really have to do anything, just being in the wind the whole day makes you tired.
In short, fun exhausting weekend.
Yesterday we went up to SF to watch the race. We went last year and took a bunch of pictures, but unfortunately we left the camera in the car this year, so pics from VeloNews will have to suffice.
It's always exciting to be at the races, especially at a time trial like this one. Instead of only one group zooming past, you get to see *every* rider individually, and they know you're cheering for them. When people like Hincapie, Bettini, Julich, and Levi Leipheimer ride by, the crowd goes particularly crazy. And since Levi was last, he got the most cheering. And, just like last year, he made the best time and won the prologue! He again gets to ride out of his hometown of Santa Rosa wearing the leader's jersey. Good job!
Disco really has a strong team here, pretty much the same team they'll be using for the Tour de France, so I really think they have a chance to win it. Even if Leipheimer doesn't do it (the captain for this race), you've still got potential winners in Hincapie, Basso, and Danielson.
Of course, if Dave Zabriskie (CSC) wins it, I won't complain. ;)
The prologue starts in San Francisco, with a short time trial up to Coit Tower. We went last year and it was a lot of fun, so we'll (hopefully) get a chance to go this year too!
World-class professional cyclists will be racing it, and pretty much all of my favorites will be there!
Here's the lineup for my two favorite teams. Bolded cyclists are the people I really like.
Nonetheless, be warned...I'll probably be posting quite a bit about this next week, so brace yourself! I can't wait!
It's a complete bike! Not just a frame! It's also a breakaway, meaning it that you can actually break the frame in half to it's easier to store!
All of this is because of my wonderful boyfriend who was able to get it for me! Yay!
Watch out road, I'm actually coming for you this time. ;)
