the laughing group

For Richard Sachs

2010-05-13T11:35:00.005-04:00

So last night was the preview party for the BESPOKE: The Handbuilt Bicycle show at the Museum of Arts and Design in the NYC curated by Michael Maharam (yes, the fabric guy), and Sacha White of Vanilla fame.

The show opens to the general public today, running through August 15th...

Great examples of the finest handmade bikes in the world from Pegoretti, Sacha White's Vanilla and Speedvagen, Mike Flanigan's A.N.T., and of course...OF COURSE! Richard Sachs. I always love running into Richie, be it at a cross race or a museum opening, its always a fun time, and good conversation atmo. He always reminds me that I haven't posted anything on my blog....so Richie...this one's for you. Can't wait to see you at the cross races....send me your schedule would ya, I wanna make sure I'm at ALL the same races.

To read about the show go here Read it and then go see it. Support bikes, cause the oil is gonna run out people.

2010-03-13T08:23:00.003-05:00

No new bikes...but I got myself a new wife, and a new baby girl. Rowan Elizabeth Kelly is runnin' shit.

ESS EFF

2008-08-23T13:47:00.004-04:00

In the San Fran for SSWC 08. All the usual supects. Brits on a weak dollar are dangerous.

Empire PSA

2008-08-18T12:56:00.002-04:00

Neat huh.

GOLD,GOLD,GOLD, another one GOLD!

2008-08-14T08:47:00.003-04:00

We knew Kristen would do it.

Congratulations! Must have been all those pancakes....

Let the HUP-ness begin

2008-06-19T08:03:00.003-04:00

Got this in the mail yesterday....Super stoked to be rolling the Baby Blue this cross season...HUP United....this team defines Cyclocross Culture, and THAT my friends, is what it is all about.

Karl+Crits = Rock Star

2008-06-19T07:54:00.003-04:00

Yes...that's the doper extraordinare Tyler Hamilton covering K. Rahn's attack...

Once again...Pretty Boy Karl Rahn takes it to the front in the Harlem Skyscraper Crit in the NYC presented by Rock Racing...

as a result, our whole team was put into the barriers in the last laps as they put the lead out train together...

and made the website that let's you know you actually did something here

Photo from the one and only Marco Quezada

I was busy with an upper respiratory infection (not from smoking weed I might add) so Iwas on my ass for 5 days...neat huh?

monday yet again

2008-06-09T07:47:00.007-04:00

Yes Yes! Its Monday again....Which really can mean only one thing....I have to go to work. But more importantly, I have to go to work in the BEAT DOWN condition that 2 days of bike racing in 98 degree heat leaves you in. Sore, Sun-burned, and depressed. The goal this weekend was to suffer like no other in preparations for the 'cross, and suffer I did.

Saturday started early with the Empire State Games Qualifier in Prospect Park (Brooklyn). Now, we race in the PP alot throughout the summer, but the reason this one is different is the length. Prospect races are usually 15-17 laps of 3.2 mile course, add the 13 mile ride out there from Manhattan, and door to door, you've got a good day in by 9:30 am (not to mention a cafe stop on the way back....sweet sweet Cafe Gitane!) The ESG Qualifier is 22 laps of that lovely course, making it come out to about 70 miles of racing, and 25 for the round tr

ip commute (Cafe!) The other quite treacherous part of this race is it is all one BIG category...yep, you heard right..Cat. P-1-2-3 AND 4, making a starting field of damn near 200 people, half of which cannot m

ake their bike go in a straight line to save their lives. It was indeed a scary day.

Mike Margarite went up the road in a LONG (15 lap or so) break, so at least all I had to do was hang out with the rest of my team (we lined up 8 bodies at that unit) and make sure no attacks went away....MM was in that break with 2 sprinters, and although as strong as Belgian Bar Maid, Margaritaville is no sprinter...so he got 3rd...a damn fine ride. J. Lo threw a last lap attack that got him in for 5th...not a bad day...the rest of us sat up on the last lap to avoid being killed in the sprint...Then a rid

e home, som food at Gitane, and all by 11am (NYC Racing is not so bad!!!) Leaving the rest of the day to hang out with my girlie. Which is what I did...We went to the Takashi Murakmi exhibit at the Broklyn Museum of Art...yes I know, not so PRO to be walking around a museu

m after 90 miles of racing and another race the next day...but ya know.....I just not that PRO...

Sunday was the Tour of Highland Park, and here is a perfect example of how un-PRO I am. When I registered for the P1/2/3 race of this lovely circuit (3.2 mile lap - 11 laps) the race promoter asked," Are you sure you want to do that?" You see...I'm a Cat 3, and he was giving me an out. But my ego and my teammates were there, so I listed to both, and off I went. 98 degrees on the start line. So hot we had ice in our jersey pockets...no shit. ICE! Such a cool course...a 2 step climb right out of the blocks( Really a wall I should say, 4mph kinda shit) hard right and flat for a bit, the left up a short false flat kinda thing, then a right on this kick as single lane, beat up, Belgian style descent, then up another climb, (where someone painted on

the road, " You just made a deposit in the PAIN BANK!....great), then down another fast descent then into 2 right handers that at 40mph was more like a big 180 degree turn, then the finishing straight. We lined up 6 guys..also on the line were some Chipolte/Slipstream dudes, Colavita, Hot Tubes, and Roger Aspholm...So Yeah, I'm wondering what I got myself into. So. off we go....again realizing how under-trained, over worked, and un-PRO I am...I stick it for a few laps, then blow sky high. One lap later, Karl comes out , (ok I don't feel so ba

d now), one more lap, and Kevin is on the side of the road (mechanical) We lined up 6 guys, 4 on

the side of the road ,and Margarite and Deeny in there fully given' it. Hundred degrees and th

e ref. won't let us feed...BS I say. There was a break of 4 up the road the stuck it, Deeny finished 5 th in no man's land bridging, and Margarite 2nd in the feidl sprint for 7th. Not Bad....but the best part of the day was when Molloy rides into the gravel parking lot at 20mph on h

is Cervelo Carbon Soloist, Sram Red, Reynolds DV46 Carbon Tubulars, and locks it up into a BMX style, foot down, power slide...like it was a huffy. I love it....I've always said: SKIDDING: Good for moral - Bad for tires (and carbon wheels)

a new addition

2008-06-06T11:54:00.004-04:00

So you wonder what OCD Cyclocross Fanatics do during the summer month? You guessed it geek of 'cross gear. Tires, tire pressure, wheels, brakes, and did I mention tires?

I just built up this DOPE set of Edge Composites wheels on Chris King Hubs, which will eventually migrate to my gear bike. I started tinkering with my Indy Fab single speed CX machine, and it got out of control. Ending with Campy Record Ultra-Torque Cranks, and Carbon Record Brake Levers.

I truly have a problem.

OK OK...I have to make a confession...I did not build these wheel myself. I COULD HAVE (but it would have taken me like a week) Instead, a much MUCH better wheel builder did. My friend Eric (aka The Alabama Hot-Pocket) in Tuscaloosa, laced these up

Photo Shoot

2008-05-06T06:52:00.005-04:00

So I got interviewed for the watch magazine because, well I work in the watch industry, and the mag was doing an article on the Tour of Cali, and how pro cyclists/athletes manage their time. I happen to know a few of the pros they were interveiwing, and (even though I'm not that PRO) Joao sent them my way. I have a feeling that they are gonna try and sell my some more adverts out of this deal, but none the less, it was a cool time. I will be in a side bar in the article about TOC, and I am happy to say I will be sharing said sidebar with Richard Sachs and RGM...good company atmo. Marco Quezada took the shots and they came out great...we'll see which ones end up in the book....I'm sure they will crop them down so you can only see my eyeball, but whatever.

The shoot was the same day as the infamous Papal visit to the NYC. Its only infamous to people who live here in the city, because they locked this island DOWN

son. You couldn't go anywhere without there being a road closed...but this cool shot came out of it...

What else...hmmmm....I will have to say that this is the first road season that I have been able to abstain from early season races...so as not to be FRIED or cross season.....

all I got...

Sachsy!

2008-04-18T06:50:00.004-04:00

If anybody out there wants to see life through the eyes a true artist, the check out this:

A film by Desmond Horsfield...learn more about him here

http://www.richardsachs.com/dvd.html

There is also a great write on it here on Belgian Knee Warmers...

My copy is on the way....I can't wait...its almost as exciting as cross season...atmo.

Keep on keepin' on e-RICHIE!!

glamour shot

2008-04-01T17:15:00.000-04:00

karl with a k http://www.mlkimages.com/gallery/4357746_66yz4#272512564_2Xio4-L-LB

its a sickness..

2008-03-28T19:24:00.004-04:00

Its not even April yet, and I just got these delivered today. It is indeed a sickness. Oh yeah, I've already got my cross schedule figured out for the upcoming 2008/09 season, and I've starting booking work travel so that it links all the USGP's together. Sad, sad, sad. I don't know what else to call it...except PRO AS HELL!!!! Sweet ass Dugasts!!! What the hell do I have to be sad about!!!! 32mm, low as hell psi...I cannot WAIT to run that shit!!!!

racing?

2008-03-25T07:09:00.006-04:00

K. Rahn in the break. Photo: www.marcoquezada.com Ok, so I'm gonna play a little catch up here... There has indeed been some bike racing. There was an NYC central park race in the rain that J. Lo won with Alex Bremer in the break with him. Karl and I were on the front of the field keeping things together. It was rainy, it was the first CRCA race, and it was way too easy. I have no photos, well because it was raining.

Next up....Grant's Tomb Criterium. I will start by saying I hate this race like no other. It put on by the Columbia Cyling Team, so I'm happy to enter just to support their team, but I just suck in early March...I've accepted this, and I have moved on.

Karl on the other hand was the star of the day in my book. He was all over the front of the P12 race, and was in several moves...most noteable was his break that he initiated to launch J.Lo, that ended with them in a 3 man brake for the last 10 laps of the race...only getting caught with 1 lap to go. Props out to the Sakonnet Squad....Koschara has been teachin

g those kids how to bite nails in half, and it shows.

breakity, break, break. Karl and J.Lo rollin. Photo: www.marcoquezada.com

Last was Prospect Park this past Sunday. It was really cold and windy and the feild was about 50 I'd say. It was a normal day for me of closing down EVERY FREAKIN GAP that those sissies opened up. I felt like I was in the wind the whole damn race. Joao Correia showed up, and it was good to catch up with him. We had breakfast after, and caught up with his road stories of life with Bissell. I then took a nap. and wrenched on some bikes...and took another nap. Racing at 6AM pretty much wipes you for the rest of the day.

Otherwise....I still can't stop thinking about cross....I know....it's way

too early. But, I don't care.

SS Cross Love

2008-03-15T10:23:00.005-04:00

So we are a long ways from cross season.....so how to bridge the gap between now and then?

We tweak on all the cross stuff that we have(drink beer), buy new stuff(drink beer), have tire and tire pressure discussions(while drinking beer), and for chrissake...we run(rod dixson?).

So my Single Speed Indy Fab Cross is gettin the love right now.....that's right Campy Record Carbon brake levers....P - I - M - P!!!

Check back soon for the crank and..ehem...WHEELS!

New Links

2008-03-13T22:35:00.002-04:00

So maybe you noticed, or maybe you didn't...but I updated my links yesterday while I was waiting for a flight in the DFW airport (yes...that's Dallas...don't ask) so....

Look over to the right there and start clickin'...newest ones are on top...

You'll see some cool bikes from Richard Sachs, Zanconato, DeKerf...etc and of course you will see some great commentary on some blogs I frequent regularly: e-RICHIE (ATMO!) , HUP United (My Cross Team), Embrocation Magazine's blog (Super cool..BUY IT!) ...and of course Belgian Knee Warmers.

enjoy them...I do every day...

BFF 2008 New York Dates Announced

2008-03-13T22:14:00.003-04:00

That's right the 2008 Bicycle Film Festival is slated for May 28 - June 1 here in the NYC.

Click HERE for more info on schedule, volunteering etc...

Richard's Night Out...

2008-03-07T19:26:00.010-05:00

So we decided to have the the inevitable "boy's night out" situation on Wednesday night....This basically gives us the license to be dicks....hence the name Richard's night out. (There isn't anyone named Richard by the way...but it seemed more clever than Dick's night out) Now for me, this is like any other night, (since I'm single) The rest of the crew can say all those things that their girlfriend would slap them for....and we can talk about bikes..ALOT without seeing anyones eyes roll. We mobbed this kick ass Italian place in Williamsburg, called PT, with a good crew. Me, Kevin, Karl, Philippe, Eli, Shinji, and Billy...good times, good times.

We had some great wines, and great food...I have to say, I'll def. go there again....I have it notated in my phone as "good date spot".

Of course that is making two VERY big assumptions:

1. That I convince some poor unassuming girl to actually go out with me.

2. I don't make a complete ass out of myself, or bore her to death with bike speak before we actually make it to the restaurant.

I've figured something out though....as you get older (me a whopping 34) you realized that you still have to go to work the next day, and that torturous endeavor will pass more

quickly and with less pain if you get some sleep and aren't still drunk when you wake up in the morning...That's what we get when you have Richard's night out on a frickin Wednesday.

After dinner we hit Zebulon for a beer, and that was bell lap....

Super good time...Richard needs to get out more often....

Oh...and for all those girlfriends that read my blog....everyone actually talked about how much they missed their better half, and about their burning desire to go outlet mall shopping.... for the record.

baby's first bath

2008-03-03T21:00:00.003-05:00

That's right....the first scrub on the new stick for the year...

This is how we have to do it here in the NYC. In the bathtub. The good thing about this situation is that it forces me to clean the bathroom after...WAIT WAIT WAIT....I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that the only time I clean my bathroom is when I clean my bike...aren't you? Well...YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!! This could be a contributing factor to my perpetual single-ness...but if you think about....my bathroom probabally stays cleaner as a result.

Let's face it. I clean my bike before every race, and after REALLY nasty training rides....so for the most part...I'm cleaning that unit once a week at a minimum!

The downside, is no amount of scrubbing bubbles will completely erase that grease ring....SORRY LANDLORD! GOOD THING ITS A RENTAL.

Whatever...some people have hairballs in their tub...I have grease boogers...you know...the ones from you rear derailleur jockey pulleys? I LOVE THOSE!!

Keep it clean...

another weekend gone

2008-03-03T07:04:00.004-05:00

bummer...its monday.

I will say that yesterday's ride was as dope as they come on pavement. I rolled solo yesterday for about 4 hours of endurance. I know there may be some controversey when it comes to ipods and bike riding, but i love mine when i'm riding alone. guess what....I wasn't wearing a helmet either.HA! The weather was cold and clear, sunshine, and just a little bit of wind. perfect.

I got some new music, so it was a perfect time to give it a spin....the playlist went something like this:

St. Vincent

Bon Iver

Pink Mountaintops

Black Mountain

That was the new stuff....then into a mix of old reliables with the likes of Shellac, Madvillan, Beasties, M83...blah blah blah.

It was fun, so there.

Tour of New Zealand is in the books!!

2008-03-02T08:39:00.004-05:00

Congratulations Kristin....you deserve all the pancakes you can eat.. Full results here.....photos courtesy of www.WomensCycling.net

classics season

2008-03-02T08:13:00.003-05:00

I'm gonna start by saying that CYCLING.TV SUCKS A BIG FAT HAIRY ONE!!!! If someone out there has the inter web and computer know how, I am calling on you to start a competing internet TV channel that can PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS!!!

Me, Kevin, and Karl got all excited to watch Het Volk yesterday. So excited that instead of watching the replay later in the afternoon, we decided to do it up over breakfast and watch the action live. So that means we all meet at K. Molloy's at 8h30 (in the morning). We were prepared for whatever....Oatmeal, scones, tons of coffee, and of course Belgian Beer.

So what happened? Those knackers at cycling.tv must be using an old Commodore 64 as there server, because it crashed. Basically we saw the last 6k of the race with Gilbert killing it for the win.

Normally, we would have gotten over it and watched the re-run later in the day, but know the finish is spoiled for us!!! All because of those no talent ass clowns at cycling.tv. Thanks boys. You suck.

In other news, it was the perfect start to the Classics season...We headed out on the bikes at about noon, "WE" being the Empire boys (my team), to get in some miles in what looked like it was turning into a beautiful day in Manhattan...42 degrees, with just a little wind. So we all rallied, dressed for what was supposed to be a 46 degree day. By the time we got over the GWB...there was no sun in sight, and temps clearly dropped. Oh yeah, and it started SNOWING. Did we turn around...negatory good buddy. We rolled on, and the snow subsided, and it was just cold...no big deal. We did a nice 3 hours into upstate NY, and when we got onto 9w for the final go back into the city....the snow stated coming down so hard we could only see about 100m in front of us, not to mention the nastiest head/cross wind you could imagine. Now remember. We already got snowed on once, and there was still about 4 inches of the crap on the ground, so the roades were wet...so WE were wet too. We immediately threw the endurance zone out the window and me, Karl, Kevin, and J.Lo started a paceline out of shear survival instinct...we did that a good half an hour, and got back to the GWB...oh...yeah...then the sun came out. It hurt alot...I was really cold...pretty much miserable....it was everything a good ride should be.

photo above courtesy of www.bettiniphoto.net

Kristin Armstrong gettin it done

2008-03-01T07:18:00.007-05:00

Kristin is kickin ass in the Tour of New Zealand...this

photo (courtesy of WomensCycling.net) is her winning Stage 3, 125k. full story and results here. She's in the lead on GC with 2 stages left to go and an 11 second lead....COME ON KRISTIN!!!

Stage 5 is a 7K TT which is tommorow (er..today, tonight...crap these time differences screw with me) and we know she's got the goods when it come to TT.

Last stage, Stage 6 is a 40k Crit, and as long as she keeps the rubber to the road, no tme is gettin lost there....

Kristin is cool...she deserves the win, especially after putting up with us jackasses on the Coast Ride...she was even nice enough to fill my bottles one day...hehehehe (thanks for the photo Ben Hughes)

Follow the results here

Keep on keepin' on Kristin!!

take a flying leap

2008-02-29T07:22:00.004-05:00

Happy Leap Day!

Once every four years and we don't even get the day off work? I mean come on....its just as random as Presidents day....or even Valentines day if you asked me...

This is a rare, limited edition of days, and that demands a certain amount of flexibility....especially when it comes to my behavior in or around the workplace....

It doesn't help that its Friday. I've been sick for what feels like a decade, and I am full recoop'ed and ready to roll like no other. I can't wait to get out on the bike this weekend...a little road riding, a little around town action on the fixie, and some hoopty hoppin on the bar bike.

ooooh...and Spring Classics are here!!!! Het Volk tomorrow on cycling.tv. I hate that site, but they've got me by the balls. I loves me some spring classics, and this time of year makes me buy all kinds of crazy cables and A/V crap so I can hook my computer up to the TV and watch it lifesize.

The pic above is pretty funny....I was cleaning out my messenger bag (a bad idea....I guess that counts as that thing I do every 4 years) and found that I had taken the pens from ALL the hotels we stayed in on the Coast Ride....kind of funny/neurotic/clepto...but cool(ish)

What else...I was checking out my favorite blog....here, and saw that Stevil posted this link to a Petition for Google Maps to put "Bike there" option in the Directions....so, click here to SIGN THE PETITION AND PUT BIKES ON THE MAP!!!!

Do something today that you would only do every 4 years....cause you have an excuse.

...and go ride you bike dammit

keep it poppin.

different angle

2008-02-26T06:59:00.004-05:00

sometimes you have to do things a little differently to discover something new...and sometimes you just have to go with it. My day yesterday started with Jury Duty...me, the courthouse, and 150 other strangers in misery. I managed to wait in about 300 lines, and filled out various documents, and got myself out of the hole deal. At least until September. In the mean time it put me in Tribeca...just so happened I ned to go to Brooklyn to pick up some parts for the fixie, and I was very close to the Manhattan Bridge. I've never been across that unit, so I decided to walk it. Beautiful day, nice views etc...glad I did it. Picked up the parts, then found this kick ass little car that looked like a vintage Smart car....and check the license plate...

then the day just kept going and going. I met up with Phillippe and Aya....some shopping, some coffee, and finally dinner at Freeman's...all in all...a pretty brilliant day.

old school

2008-02-24T08:51:00.002-05:00

this is what happens when you have a cold, and can't go ride your bike. you clean out that big box of cycling crap that is so over-stuffed and disorganized. sometimes though....you find a kickass piece of cycling history....a remanant of a the days of EPO induced 1-2-3 podium sweeps....

sexywear 4 less

2008-02-23T09:37:00.002-05:00

you see some funny ass low-rent shit in south florida. this is right off miami beach....in case you're in the market.

Danzig x Shakira

2008-02-23T09:00:00.001-05:00

then there's this...

2008-02-16T07:44:00.003-05:00

i don't deserve this thing...but its dope as shit none the less. 15.5 lbs, and those ain't the light wheels...

the dope shit

2008-02-15T07:16:00.003-05:00

www.zerogravitybike.com

Limited edition...the magic words

only available here

how often...

2008-02-13T08:04:00.003-05:00

do you get to ride with a world champion and olympic athlete....for 30+ hours? NOT THAT OFTEN!! not to mention Kristin was giving me great relationship advice...cause i need as much of that as i can get. 30 hours of that was not nearly enough. kill 'em Kristin.

Thanks to Ben Hughes for the photo, and you can see the rest of his pics from the Coast Ride here

witch's tit-tay

2008-02-11T18:13:00.000-05:00

that's how cold it was today. 11 american degrees. i saw this frozen beer, or piss in the LES this am...either way, it has to be cold for that to freeze. got to hang with my friend Steve Elmes today. he was in from Boulder. it was great to catch up, and it makes me really realize how many great friends i've made over the years, and i'm really happy that i have stayed in touch with the ones that matter. no matter what else happens...i got that.

its coming...

2008-02-11T07:05:00.001-05:00

click here for more info...

its that time of year again...

2008-02-09T14:11:00.001-05:00

pimp ass new bike in pro build progress

Coast Ride on NBC

2008-02-07T07:31:00.000-05:00

Kristin Armstrong has a cool blog on NBC Sports...its much more mature than the crap I write here...but she is an Olympian....She was on the Coast Ride, and she wrote about it here

Check out her site as well www.kristinarmstrongusa.com

Kristin is coached by my coach...the man, Mike Sherry and is partner Craig Upton...check them out too:www.performancelabshc.com

word.

back to reality

2008-02-06T09:39:00.000-05:00

Smiley, Kristen Armstrong, Ben, and Mon Sherry chowin some fish tacos J.Lo should really wear sunblock J.Lo and the man...Douggy T. Me, Bruce, J.Lo at the top of Latigo Look behind J.Lo and you can see the KICK ASS twisties we just climbed...LA is pretty cool.

Alas...Training camp is over...back to the cold, grey New York. Monday was a big slap in the face since it was snowing...wet nasty snow. not like the 65 and sun we had on the left coast...Never thought I would say it, but I could actually live in Cali....would be pretty cool...

Anyway...NY is NY....but I wanted to give the update on the last few days of the Coast Ride...

So Thursday Day 4, was Santa Barbara to Manhattan Beach...118 miles, again under 6 hours but just barely!!...5 hours, 58 minutes...3800 kcals down....this day felt like the longest recovery ride I have ever had...its nice to feel the fitness piling on.....Another massage from the master Douggy T, and all is right in the world...its amazing how well you recover with massage, good food, and plenty of sleep...

Friday...Day 5...The Last (sniff, sniff) Day of the Coast Ride... Manhattan Beach to Carlsbad...

110 miles, 6 hours (headwind) 3900 kcals...

I won the final town line sprint into Carlsbad...I didn't shift gears, and I stayed in Zone 2 to do it...thats sweet...glory is mine, and the first beer was on Chris Hauth...

We finished the ride, then I rode directly to the Hertz joint and picked up the rental car....people really look at you funny when you drive a car with a bike helmet on..

Then back to hotel for Dinner, final Douggy T magic, and hit the road. Me, Molloy, J.Lo, and Mike Sherry were heading up to LA to hang with our boy Bruce, and do some hill work in the Canyons...

THAT....Was a sweet ride. 4 hours, 70 miles, 12 miles of climbing, and some kick ass twisty descents...I love that stuff....

So all in all...7 days of riding, 670 miles total, 38 hours of saddle time. Not a bad training week.

Word.

Coast Ride Quotes

2008-02-03T11:37:00.000-05:00

Molloy: "Good wine is nice to have"

R Kelly: "I'm happiest when I'm hungry"

J. Lo: "Polly wants a f*&#ing cracker!"

Chris Hauth: "Last hill of the day!"

Cute chic at Starbucks in Santa Barbara: "Where are you guys mobbin' from"

1 knackered 1

2008-01-31T00:11:00.001-05:00

I'll start by saying that the word for this trip is "knackered" we use it any chance we get..."we're so knackered" or "you're such a knacker" or even better..."I've had enough of this knackery"...Knacker-isms and Phan-isms have become major motifs in this death march...the "Phan Finger" appears daily....

coast ride group photo...sweet Guadaloupe stop day 3 The start in Tiburon...we look so happy and fat! breakfast stop day 2 breakfast big sur...yes we ate all that.. sweet ass Big Sur Molloy's mullet

So on Monday we started our training camp....leaving from San Fran, and arriving in Carlsbad, CA just 5 LONG days later....its now Wednesday, and and its safe to say that we are tired. By tired I mean...eyes sunken into your head, avoiding stairs, dull, throbbing, not blogging kinda tired.

The one thing that we realized is that no matter how many 3-4 hours rides that you do, unless you do MANY 6+ hour rides, your ass and soft bits never really gets used that that kind of pounding...

All in all though it couldn't be better...its gonna be 65 and sun today, and I have been feeling stronger every day...yesterday I even managed to get 2nd in the 2 town line sprints...I don't feel bad, because I was beat by Craig "Smiley" Upton, he's a pro, (former Navigator) and he has onlt been riding half days with us..HAAHA...who am I kidding he would have kicked my ass any way you slice it, but it was semi close (wheel length)

Here's the data on the the last three days:

Day 1

San Francisco - Monterey

130 miles

7 hours 37 minutes

5000 calories burned (nice)

Day 2

Monterey - Morro Bay (via Big Sur)

127 miles

6 hours 29 minutes

4000 calories burned

Day 3

Morro Bay - Santa Barbara

118 miles

5 hours 42 minutes (killer tailwind!!)

3800 calories burned

Today...is Santa Barbara to Manhattan Beach..115 miles....I'll let you know how that works out..

Sorry folks, I have no energy for witty banter, I'm surprised I've made it this far in this post without having to eat another wretched power bar...

The thing that is so cool about this ride, is that by the time we are done, this is a ride that you can look at on a map...a map of the ENTIRE US!!

San Fran x NYC

2008-01-27T09:26:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting in the lobby of the W San Fran, jet-lagged out of my brain (Its 5:30 am here), and watching all the "go-ers" coming in all banged up. Its nice to see actually. Also nice to see is the that everyone is wearing a lot of black....which makes me feel right at home...

Also nice to see...or not nice really....that in s city that is supposed to be so environmentally conscious, that you can buy a cup of coffee at a coffee shop called "ORGANIC COFFEE" and they don't even have recycled cups, or a recycling bin for you plastic bottles...and ceramic cups for the "stay-ers" were not even an option...we are all hypocrits...don't ever forget it.

Last night me, Molloy, and J.Lo just chilled out, and went for a nice dinner in the Mission. A Japanese place called Tokyo Go Go...super cool, young, hip, and the sush was some of the best I've had at half the price....Anchor Steam beer of course.

We found a dusty old book store that was dope as hell, and picked up some reading material.

We start the BIG ride tomorrow...San Fran to San Diego in five days. OOOF.

not the first time...

2008-01-15T22:15:00.000-05:00

I've gotten inspiration from the wall of a bar......sounds alot like bike gaming.

neighbor pop

2007-12-29T09:21:00.000-05:00

what more do you need liquor and pie best video store on the planet. bite me netflix.

Big Lebowski Burrito Night

2007-12-29T08:53:00.001-05:00

first round skinny ass molloy Burritos and White Russians son...

Slack blogger catch-up - USGP Trenton

2007-12-16T10:42:00.000-05:00

USGP Trenton was dope. I raced....had a great time. Loved watching dumb-asses that couldn't bear the thought of dropping in on the fly-over. suckas. They would run up one side, and just stop at the top. This made for nice pile-ups atop a rickety platform. Especially on the first lap.

But thats neither here or there. The course was super good. Designed by Stu Thorne for www.cyclocrossworld.com. Trebon won day one, and day two. I thought TJ would whoop him in the mud, but Treefarm's got the levers. J Pow, was looking strong as hell too.

check out some pics, the sandpit was FREAKSHOW long, somewhat ridable (if you hold your mouth right). Good times, good times. I learned how to gut SRAM shifters too...and added bonus. Thanks to Mark from the mechanic from Cyclocrossworld team. Now I can completely screw my shifters up.

Baystate Cross Sterling, MA

2007-11-25T07:32:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I drove 400 miles to race for 45 minutes....Sterling, MA...one of the classic New England UCI races. It was 24 degrees. Sweet. It was fun, I have to say. I intended on leaving directly after my race, and getting my scrawny ass back to the NYC...but when I see the big boys warming up, like cross legend Tim Johnson..and soon to be legend Jeremy Powers....I just have to stay and watch. It was a great battle in the Elite race yesterday between Jesse Anthony, Tim Johnson, and J. Pow. The course favored Anthony and Powers as it was more of a speed course, and not technical or powerful. ALOT of off camber..(or ADVERSE camber as Phil Ligget would say) and the ground was, well, frozen, as per usual in NE cross races. So the three of them were battling it out, and it was so cool to watch them all throwing punches. J.Pow figured it out early I think....there was a wicked steep run-up, that he rode on the first lap. He was the only one that could nail it, and I personally think made a conscious decision to save that shit for later. Then it came...the screws got turned by Jesse and Jeremy, and Tim popped with 2 to go....then with 1 to go....it ws time for that run-up...J.Pow nailed it, and instantly gapped Anthony. After that, it was a matter of just givin it the stick for a lap. Jeremy poured it on, and with a half a lap to go, you physically saw Anthony blow. His chin dropped, his shoulders slumped...and most importantly, his legs stopped moving so damn quick. Powers put another New England Classic in the books....a well deserved victory.

turn up the good...

2007-11-25T07:15:00.000-05:00

and turn down the SUCK. That's the advice that I need to be giving myself right now....I tell you...I have been racing a pretty full cross schedule this year, and I am coming to the conclusion that I am getting old, fat , and slow....and THAT just will not do.

But no...seriously...I have been having a great time....It doesn't feel that way about 30 minutes into a 45 minute race, but....I just keep telling myself that its fun..

More self-deprecating race reports later...

cross bitch slaps me

2007-11-02T06:41:00.000-04:00

I love cross like no other, but that shit HURTS!!!!! Did a nice race up at Craigmeur last weekend....I did not win. Kevin Molloy did, and the asshole lapped me...I thought you were my boy Kevin?? The other tragedy is tat my flask sprung a leak....and I ended up with a backpack that was soaked in scotch. I don't so much mind that my bag reaked like a distillery....just pissed that the bag is soaked and not my liver. Photos from the man....Marco Quezada: www.marcoquezada.com more at www.nyvelocity.com

My 3 speed is DEAD

2007-10-10T17:14:00.001-04:00

www.timmyp.typepad.com

2007-10-07T19:58:00.000-04:00

Below was an e-mail that I just sent my friend Timmy in Boulder...it explains it all...you can check out Timmy's blog (singlespeed dream) from my links, or from the address above. Yo TIMMAY!!!! I hope all is well... I have been traveling so much for work...I determined that I have been home for 3 days out of the last 21...not a good average...oh well. I wanted to thank you for the Disc of our Tasting at the Bench....so good. I just finished going through the "Scotland Arms" photo series...THE BEST!!!! So pissed I wasn't there, but what can you do. The good thing is that I am drinking a nice Laphroaig 10yr Cask strength, and I got a bottle of Lagavulin 16 on sale today for $48....That's US dollars. (Even though those aren't worth much these days) Booze is the only thing cheap in NYC...they know we all need it. I'm actually thinking of investing heavily in cases of of the stuff...at $48 bones a shot, I could move to Boulder and set up a carni style booth in front of Liquor Mart and make 100% profit. That's all for now...Hope to see you before the snow falls, but I think that has already happened where you are. Keep on keepin' on, the Rustler.

Green Mountain Stage Race

2007-09-05T07:09:00.000-04:00

Me, Kevin (Molloy) and K.Rahn(Karl), along with Kevin's special lady friend Alice (A.Phat, A.Phunky, Phan) piled into my car early Friday morning to set out for Waitsfield, VT. Home of the Green Mountain Stage Race. (http://www.gmsr.info/) Its like a 6 hour drive from NYC, but we were all excited because we had been planning this trip for a while. We were all doing the Master's 30+ race so we could race together, and so we did't have to ride the crazy long distances of the Cat. 3 or Pro 1/2 Races. We were treating this as a fun trip...we got a nice condo, and planned on doing it right. No sleeping on floors or sofas, no chamois-side-out shorts hanging from every door knob in the place. Civilized...just some good food, beer, and us...stewing in our own race induced flatulence. Dr. J (John Loehner) and his wife Claire were also staying in our hood rounding out the old guys. (Dr. J was doing the Pro race though...hard man).....recipe for a great 4 -day, leg breaking, stage race weekend.

So....after 6 hour in the car, we find ourselves in the mountains of Vermont...we drove the uphill TT course, and I have to say it was intimidating..(now that I'm a...er...flatlander)...but we hit it.

Here's the caviat...Molloy and I are both SICK AS DOGS!!!! Some cold going around, and we are both coughing like freaks, and hacking up shit you don't want to look at....back to hill climb:

Karl attacked early to go for the Hot spot sprint half way up, but the guy who went with him was a dick and wouldn't work...so he came back...with just a few K's to go, the road turned skyward, and the attacks started going off...Molloy finished 10th...I got popped because it actually sounded like I was whistling when a was breathing, (I got 36th) and Karl finshed just a few places ahead of me....its sucks being sick...but the course was unbelievable! Now, food, beer, and get ready for the 54 mile circuit race the next day.

Wake up...still sick...and cook the mother lode of pancakes...this is why I race bikes...FOOD.

Off we go onthe circuit race...we've got like 54 miles, two laps and a bit more on a 19.5 mile course...with of course a big climb, and couple of smaller nut-punchers....Again Karl goes onthe attack early to try and stay away for the Hot Spot sprints, and gets in a break that rolls for a while....Karl gets second in the sprint, and the break comes back..REALLY CROSS-WINDY today...in the 30+ field with not many big teams, the field goes crazy...attack after attack...guttering in the windy sections, and general douche-baggery...(a.k.a. bike racing) Armand and Evil Matt Howard from Bandit Racing (http://www.banditracing.com/) are here too, so its good to be racing with those guys, and they are riding strong...both in the top 10 on Stage 1, so they are going good. Long story short, a break gets away of 3 guys, and then with 5K to go, another 4 guys go, asn stay away..(7 up the road)...the rest of us sprint...K.Rahn leads out Molloy...I'm on Armand's wheel...Karls pulls off, and Molloy rockets away...Armand breaks right, I break left, and 2 other dudes are in there...Molloy takes it for 8th place, I finsihed 5th inthe field sprint for 12th overall...I'm pretty happy with that...being a lunger and all...Kevin and I both were literally coughing up blood after the Circuit...nice...bike racing is fun.

Back to our condo for food(beer), showers(beer), and sleep(scotch). Yep, you got it...Molloy and I are so sick, that we were both doing shots of Dalmore Single Malt (15yr) could be worse...we could get sicker, or we could have had to drink shite whiskey...

Road Race...64.5 miles, 2 big climbs..Middlebury Gap, and the finishing climb : Appalachian Gap. With a number of smaller climbs in between, like Baby Gap (hardly a baby). The idea was to try and get Karl in position fo the Hot Spot sprint at 18.5 miles...he is in 4th for the points classification, and a win at this itermediate sprint would put him in the jersey. So a break goes off with both Kevein and Karl in it...Kevin leads Karl out, Karl thinks the sprint is later, and Kevin wins the sprint with his lead out...nice. Back in the pack, I am covering attacks and trying to keep race leader, Deiter Drake at bay...he is having to chase like a bitch...in the wind. I get dropped on Middlebury...and chase back (it only took like 15 miles) catch the group (whew!) and off we go. Get to the finishing climb, and me Karl and Molloy make the front split...Karl attacks me with 1K to go...I thought about going...but I know my limits...Molloy up the road finishes 20th, Karl 23rd, and me..25th...so we were all right there. Matt and Armand from Bandit finished strong in the top 10. (NYC Flatlanders represent!!) I'm seeing black, and my fingers and toes are numb at this point. (but at least I'm not coughing blood)

Crit...Molloy gets 3rd, Karl gets 7th,, I narrowly escape getting dropped, and hold on for 25th. FOK! this was a hard weekend....now for the 6 hour drivr home, back to the wretched city.

You don't notice how crazy it is in NYC until you leave, and go to a beautiful place like Vermont for a few days...the contrast is crazy, and I think we all are a little depressed by it.

Cycling News...sweet

2007-09-04T06:55:00.000-04:00

I still didn't win the Mengoni GP, but at least I made Cycling News... http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/photos/2007/aug07/gpmengoni07/ZUI_3018 Enjoy

Mengoni Grand Prix

2007-08-30T11:48:00.000-04:00

Despite all my training and getting down to 147 lbs...I did not win...so I'm eating a friggin burger and drinking some beers. Thanks to Andrew Kozak for the pic..at www.nyvelocity.com

Heidi and Sasha Kill it...I drink

2007-08-30T11:18:00.000-04:00

Colorado State MTB Champs....beautiful day, my last in Boulder, and yes...we convinced Heidi to race Single Speed...NOICE!! Josh and I arrived at Eldora just in time for the start of the Expert/SS class, leaving us barley enought time to run to the first climb in order to properly heckle Heidi as she rolled it on the PUSS...Josh gave feed zone a new meaning by trying to feed Heidi...uh...carrot cake. Nice one Josh...we were supposed to trying to feed her beer, but our slack asses were too late to get to Dale's beer tent to have proper supplies, so Josh tried to force the last of his breakfast on her.

Josh and I then proceed to hike the entire course heckling anyone who passes us...this is pretty big bike race, so there was a fair amount of heckling to be done. The Pro women started as well...by the first climb, Katie Compton had a 3 minutes on second place. Why is she so fast? How can I be like her and still retain my manjunk? By the end, she flogged the rest of the pros by more than 10 minutes...OUCH! Heidi was still gettin' it done...killing it on the SS. Up one technical climb Josh puts a dollar bill in his fly, to entise the ladies to make a quick buck...then we started our hike back to the finish....here's an aside..HIKING SUCKS! When you have cyclists knees and tight IT bands and inflexible Hamstrings...it just sucks. But we make it back to find Dave (The Jersey Ditch Snake) and Shannon at the finish...oh, and of course a few Dale's Pale Ales. Heidi comes across the line in 2nd...NICE WORK! (hence the podium shot above), and her lovely daughter Sasha (Sasha-nator) raced in the Shimano Youth Series as well...taking it to all the boys with a basket on her bike....

Of course, Heidi's own Scott "G" Godsil was on deck with their son, Max-man to cheer 'em on as well. Then we had some more beers, and waited around for Dale (http://www.oskarblues.com/) to finsh the beer can yardbirds, so we could eat, and oooh yeah, I have to drive to the fokin' airport and go home, while these kids get to ride the moto's in the mountains and eat and drink at the pig palace again...I'm so pissed I don't live in Ned.

See Heidi...aren't you glad you raced Single?

More Beers, Less Gears

2007-08-29T14:41:00.000-04:00

So Josh is off work now, we are both sumarily hungover, what better to do than go Single-Speed Mountain Bike Riding on some single-wide dirt trails.....Heidi has been killing it in the Expert category riding for the Chipolte squad,and since she was racing the next day at Eldora for the Colorado State Champs..it only made sense to pre-ride the course with her...and drink some of the good sponsor's beer, Oskar Blues, (http://www.oskarblues.com/) Makers of Dale's Pale Ale and Old Chubb Scottish Ale. So Heidi said I could ride her puss...er..maybe I should start over...So Heidi said I could BORROW her Pink Ugly Single Speed (P.U.S.S. by Bianchi), and we would all go turn a few hot laps. Then it started raining....so...I guess we'll wait it out in the truck...like this.. That's the thing about Boulder...the Mountains can cause some crazy weather, and its no big deal to wait out a little afternoon rain shower. So we grabbed some beer form the beer tent, (Heidi got the only Pale Ale, and Josh and I got the 8.5% by Volume Old Chubb) and we just hung out. Finally it stapped raining , and we were able to hit it. So much fun to be back in the woods again. There is no amount of road racing that you can do that will give you the handling skills that riding a mountain bike can...and there is no amount of weight training that you can do that will equal single-speeding the mountains of the front range....Also, be it known, that drinking a really thick beer like Old Chubb before doing the former, WILL make you throw up. So, Heidi was entertaining the idea of doing the Single Speed category on Sunday, and Josh and I were puching her to do it....I mean, she's been taking all comers on the gears...why not step it up, and slum it on the SS for a while...that show all those sissy gear-head girls what tough is all about. So we roll on...andof course it starts to rain....and thenit starts to RAIN. and THUNDER and LIGHTNING (Heidi is screaming at the top of her lungs at this point, because she is dealthly afraid of the lightning) Of Course we do the most logical thing we can thing of: LAUGH AT HER. We hide under some trees and laugh our asses off until it stops.....It stopped just long enough to get back to the parking lot, when it starting pouring even harder, and hailing as well....sweet. We were going to head to the Pig Palace (Mountain View Brew Pub and BBQ in Nederland) but the power was out in Ned, so we hit some Mexican grub in Wondervu... Single Speeds are fun. Don't ever forget it bitches.

Pretty in Pink is a Classic

2007-08-24T16:31:00.000-04:00

So the "Pretty in Pink" photo of Josh at Red Rocks sporty the girly tee is an instant classic...It made the Classics page on Singlespeed Dream ,Timmy P's Blog....check it out at http://www.timmyp.typepad.com/. As Josh would say, "excellent".

The Bench - My First Tasting

2007-08-24T11:23:00.000-04:00

For years these tastings have been going on up in Nederland. For years, when I would talk to Josh on a Friday, he would say...if you lived here, you could be going to The Bench right now. My visits to Boulder in the past have never coincided with a Tasting...Ok, so at Thanksgiving we did some serious tasting (6 or 7 Scotches, and god knows how many beers) but I had never been to a Tasting proper...at The Bench...until now. It was me Timmy, Stacey, and eventually Mr. Fitness. Too bad...Josh couldn't be there..he had a hot date to see the Beasties again at the Fillmore...a damn shame. My first tasting and no Joshua...next time. The weather was gorgeous, crisp, almost Fall-like, and it was the first Bench for everyone in a little while. First a little back ground. These tastings started a few years ago with Josh and Timmy et al, and it was basically happy hour. but when you live in such a beautiful place as Nederland, Colorado...why would you sit in a dingy bar with a bunch of assholes, when you could be outside drinking some new beers/scotch/whiskey with your closest friends. So everyone would bring a Bomber of their favorite (or new) beer, and or some other libation, and everyone would try it.

You can check out the history of the Tastings at Timmy's blog..singlespeed dram here.

It started something like this:

I broke the rule, by bringing more than one Bomber...but I couldn't resist...IT WAS MY FIRST BENCH!! I brought an Anchor Brewing Small Beer, the new limited release from Left Hand..a Rye Bock, and a Hudson Bay Baby Bourbon...the only legally distilled bourbon from NYC since before prohibition. Timmay! and Stace brought the good stand-bys: Stone Brewings Rejuevination IPA, and Arrogant Bastard Ale...all in Deuce-Deuce oz ..Bombers..of course. Timmy...did you bring that sweet as Unibroue Terrible Belgian Style or did Fitness? but we had that, and the Fitness showed up with anther good one...Aventinus....6 Bombers, and Bourbon...not a bad one.

Obviously the idea is to try some new stuff, talk about, etc. But more importantly just like any happy hour. Its to blow off the steam of the week. To catch up with your friends, and to make plans for the weekend. To friggin relax. we had a great time. Obviously I'm not in Ned that often so they caught me up on all the gossip, and we geeked out on some bike stuff (Sorry Stace...you're a trooper)...It was a GREAT time...one of the many highlights of my vacation.

After a bit, the "tasting" part just went out the window, and we were just DRINKING...and it ended something like this:

After we finished up, Fitness and I went for great Indian food at Kathmandoo in Nederland...so good...

So there...I'm no longer a Tasting Virgin.

My vacation sucked...

2007-08-23T21:37:00.001-04:00

Right.... Need I say more? Actually....yes I do. There is alot to say about this night....lets start with HOLY SHIT!!! What an amazing venue...Red Rocks is the best. If you haven't been there...GO. I don't care if its the Carpenter's Tribute Band tour....GO...its an unbelievable setting, great sound, and an amazing atmosphere... So here's how it went. I did my usual..road all damn day, ate some food, drank some beer. We had a crew put together to caravan to the Beasties, comprised of...Heidi and Scott Godsil, Josh, Dave, and Me. Heidi was driving...oooof...I'm suprised she didn't leave our asses on the side of the road on the way home...Anyway...Heidi came and picked me up at the yurt, then we met Dave and Josh in Boulder...Dave was loaded for bear..(you are the man Dave)...he had a cooler with a 30 pack of Tecate on ice, pre-cut limes, gatorade...you name it....So in the car...open some beers, and we are off to pick up Scott in Denver...he was working a trade show there and staying with his parents..so we picked him up, and off we went...3 Tecates later, and Godsil (Scott) make the call on the food...and we get a 5 Gyros to go.. (I still owe you for that Scott..) and we are off. We show up at Red Rocks...get styled out with the parking, and meet some other friends in the parking lot...more beer, bourbon, tequila, and we meet up with Shannon...who was styled out head to toe in a Pink Velvet Tracksuit...Pink shoes..the flat brim ...she looked AWESOME!!! Heidi...You should have let G wear the Blue Tracksuit...that's all I'm sayin.

Now we are inside, and IT IS ON! So we have some high dollar beers from the concession stands and wait for the show to start...Meanwhile Heidi and Shannon head to the T-shirt booth...they come back with the hot girly tee...Josh...being fond of the pink asked if they had men's in pink...answer being "No" He shoe horned his skinny ass into Heidi'sOh it gets better...The show was fokin AMAZING...Shannon took Josh and I ALL the way down to the front...sorted out the crowd, and perched us about 10 rows back from the stage...and then it went like this:And like this....

Oh...and this..... Then it ended with us in the parking lot...drinking the rest of the beers...and anhilating an entire package of Chips-A-Hoy chocolate chip cookies... It gets better.....because we have to get back inthe car....and at this point we are C.H.D...Cold Hammered Dogshit....and sober Heidi has to put up with it for an hour... more later about stealing food and beer from Godsil's parents house, trying to convince a young co-ed at the pizza joint in Boulder to sell us a pie after hours, and us killing an entire bag of BBQ chips and a cinnamon roll...Josh...I owe you big time for that ticket my friend.

Un-Training

2007-08-23T20:55:00.000-04:00

I originally had purchased a ticket to go to Scotland for Single-Speed World Championships with longtime derelicts Josh and Timmy P. but my damn useless career got in the way, and I had to cancel. So I used the ticket to go visit Josh in Boulder. Where he lives, and where I want to live. Since Josh is going to the motherland on vacation, he couldn’t really take any more time off work, so the plan was for me to train on the road during the day, and we would drink beer by night, with some Single-Speed Dirt Bike action on the weekend.

So this is my vacation. My plan: To drink so much that I negate any amount of training that I do. Come to find out…I trained a lot…so what does that mean? YES! DRINKING A LOT!! Basically, Josh and I would wake up in the yurt…crank out some great espresso..old school style, and Josh would roll to work and I would roll out on the bike. I would spend 3-4 hours on my bike everyday, descending down from Nederland at 8300 ft, to Boulder at 5230 ft, across the flats, and up one of many different ways to gain altitude….ride up to about 9200ft, then descend back to Ned. Then I would shower (sometimes), play Frisbee with Jackson and Lucy for a minute, then head into Boulder for some food, and inevitably…beer.

I really love this place, and I know that I am gonna live there before too long. Its a combination of the community, the lifestyle, and the pace, but mostly the people. Josh, Timmy, Fitness, and their circle of friends are phenomenal. Good people. Not that New York doesn’t have good people…it does, but somewhere along the way, those good people became “New Yorkers”…Hard and jaded…they lost their soul somewhere out there....I'm not gonna let that shit happen to me.....

So I didn't take any pictures while I was out slogging away the miles in the mountain...but I did take more pictures of all the cool people, and some great experience I had there....so keep checking...I'm gonna keep posting. Josh: You are the man...Thanks for everything...

Molloy wins Club Championships!

2007-08-23T20:45:00.000-04:00

Molloy wins it from a break...

He gets to sport that #1 all next year...sweet. I was in a break earlier in the race that didn't have the right mix, when it came back Kevin (Molloy) went with the counter, and it stayed away....he showed those boys a clean set 'o wheels...and even had time to think about his victory salute. Meanwhile, back with the common folk...myself and Ken Harris were blocking for that little bitch....bringing back attacks left and right. Congrats Molloy....beers are on you.

Throwback #4

2007-08-23T14:28:00.000-04:00

Then I raced my bike....a bunch. I'd like to be able to post a picture of me with my arms raised up...or be able to give you the play by play of what went down in the break....but I cant. I haven't gottenthe big W yet this season, but the season ain't over. I did have alotof fun, and some of my friends won, and I like to think that I contributed to that in some way....but don't even think for one minute I wouldn't do anything short of clubbing a baby seal to cross theline in first...with the "Satan's got your nose" Goatheads in the air...

Throwback #3

2007-08-23T14:11:00.001-04:00

Then I moved into a new apartment......and had a party...

It was supposed to be the day of Grant's Tomb Criterium...this post would have been vastly different had that happened. It snowed and iced like crazy, and the race was canceled. It also just so happed to be Saint Patrick's day, and me and my Irish heritage couldn't resist...so I had a party....beer, wine, mixed drinks, sushi, a choux tree...and karaoke. It ended at 5:30am the next day with pizza. Well played.

F'ed up as a can o' boogers.

Throwback #2

2007-08-23T14:04:00.001-04:00

Then I got a new bike....

Jamis came correct again this year for my team, CRCA/Sakonnet Technology (www.skntcycling.com) and provided us with an early release of the Xenith SL (due out at Interbike '07)...840 gram frameset....I built this beast up to be about 14.5 lbs....but guess what....it didn't make me go any faster. A great bike despite the fact it did not come with fitness.

The Throwback Post #1

2007-08-23T11:30:00.000-04:00

Ok, so my last real post was in January....needless to say, alot has happened since then. My lack of posting all started when I decided to change my blog template. When I did, I lost all my links and all of the custom stuff (be it very little) that I had done to my blog, so it kinda was a nut puncher. Since January, I've done alot. I drank alot, I trained alot, Raced alot, changed jobs, and fell out of love with NYC. So before I post all the kick ass photo's from my recent vacation in Boulder...lets get caught up. In Febuary there were somemore roller races, put on by NY Velocity (http://www.nyvelocity.com/) I decided not to race, as I was deep in my program of beer drinking at that point, so I went as Molloy's handler. I drank and heckled every one. I told Molloy he was losing, even when he was winning just to watch him kill himself...he he ...I though he was gonna punch me. Oh yeah...and Floyd Landis showed up to try and regain some face. We passed the hat for charity...I don't remember what charity, I was too drunk and I have been in way too much oxygen debt since then to recall...but I was in charge of the hat. Molloy raced and dispatched most everyone.. He got third again.....but he did it with style, as you can see by the next photo with a Guiness in hand...... Landis showed up with his entourage to try and win in the court of the people. I thought he acted like a dick....Here he is with the winner Gui.

Almost there

2007-08-23T07:51:00.001-04:00

Get Ready...

2007-07-02T17:49:00.000-04:00

So....I've been super slack...but I'm about to hit you with the "Big Ass Catch-up" post soon... Stay tuned..

Boulder Calling

2007-01-05T17:28:00.000-05:00

My good friend Steve Elmes, or SJ Elmeees as I call him, just sent me these 2 pics. He lives in Boulder, CO and he took these photos just hours before the blizzard hit just before Christmas. He literally took the photos from just outside his front door. Here me now: I will live there someday.

2007-01-05T15:43:00.000-05:00

Cyclocross Nats - Lap 2 Pile Up
this is me busting my ass at cross nats

I know it looks like I'm Smiling...

2006-12-21T07:07:00.000-05:00

But the reality is that I trying to breathe through my eyeballs at this point. Thanks to Ed Collier and www.cyclingpix.net for this shot from CX Nationals...

2006-12-20T10:32:00.000-05:00

Matt White has Skills This was Matt White on Fiordifrutta...He has skills. When Cannondale asked him where he wanted the cables routed on his new CX machine, he replied.."I don't care where you put 'em, cause I'm never getting off the bike."

2006 Cyclocross Nationals, Providence, RI

2006-12-19T08:13:00.000-05:00

I'll start by saying it wasn't cold enough for Cross Nationals. I will follow that up by saying the weather was f'in beautiful, and I had such a good time. Me, Bruce-dawg, and Baz were representing the Sakonett Squad for the weekend...along with an appearance by Robbie G. for the Elite Race on Saturday. Then event come off with out a hitch. 1900 participants, and I barley had to wait in line to pick up my numbers. There were tons of vendors displaying there wares, and it gives all the bike geeks (namely me) a chance to peep out what's out there. I love that shit. Also, being from the bike industry in a former life, I got to see all of my old friends from Indy Fab (www.ifbikes.com) and Dirt Rag Magazine. (www.dirtragmag.com) Couldn't have been better. Well maybe...I guess I could have won my race, but that just wasnt' realistic. So Bruce and Baz were first up in the Masters 35-39 Category. Bruce was in good form having just won the California State Cross Championships (Sweet! State Champ!) so he was aiming for a top 20 goal. (keep in mind like 170 people lined up in this category) Baz was just back from NY State Champs where he road to a strong 4th place, so he was ready to mix it up as well. But..Alas...the course was a nice fast course with some tricky technical bits, that caused massive chaos. Baz went down, and flatted, so he was out..Bruce was on his way to his goal, and I think he would have finished in the top 15, but crashed once...then again in the same spot, and wrecked his thumb...but still finished the race in a respectable 67th. Rkelly up next. DISCLAIMER TIME! I had grand hopes of a full cross season. Work got in the way. So...Cross Nats was my first Cross race of the season...ooof. I picked a good one. I lined up with 150 of my closest friends, and off I went. I got my ass handed to me. Techinically I felt great..run-ups, barriers, and the slippery bits were no problemo...I just wasn't fast enough. Finished 61st...crash free. (The real motivation was to keep the skinsuit clean..) Saturday was spent watching the Elite riders, drinking beer, and eating Redbones BBQ. (www.redbones.com). Ryan Trebon is freakshow fast. He got the hole shot and never looked back, putting time into the field on every lap. He won with ease, taking the National Title 40 seconds ahead of the next rider.. Jonathon Page, and third went to none other that Timmy Johnson. Great Race. I want to be like those guys when I grow up. Sunday, and it was time for me to race again. Long story short. Lined up with 211 riders...there were tons of crashes due to some light rain the night before, but we were still flying...doing sub 9 minute laps of the 3K course. I finished 85th...A little muddier than on Friday.

Full results at www.cyclingnews.com and great pics at www.cyclingpix.net. All in all...a fun time. Hung out with my boys, Bruce and Baz. Did some serious bike geekery. Drank some beer, and oh...yeah...raced at Nationals. See you next year in Kansas City.

Beer+Bikes = Spillage

2006-12-19T07:38:00.001-05:00

"Spillage in the Village" to be exact. So on December 12 NY Velocity (www.nyvelocity.com) and St. Pauli Girl, with the help of some other sponsors organized the first roller race of the off-season. Last year all of the roller races were held in the Brooklyn Brewery, but this year...no go...we were in a tiny bar in the East Village called 169 Bar. For 20 bones, spectators could watch skinny bike racers fall off rollers, and have all you can drink St. Pauli Girl...and for those racing that night...all you can drink for $10...plus the chance for public humiliation and possibly broken bones...all whilel have beer thrown on you by the carnage hungry crowds. It came off without a hitch. Dan, Andy, and Alex pulled it together nicely, and it was better organzed than some road races I have been to. Also, a big thanks to out USA Cycling Rep. Alan for officiating the whole biligerent deal. Peer pressure is a powerful force. Much more powerful than crack I have determined. I have never smoked the crack rock, but I can anly assume based on what I learned from "New Jack City", and in bike racing..its all about ego... So...I decided to race. I was scared shitless, but it turned out OK. My teammate David Wiswell raced with me along with my friend/arch enemy Kevin Molloy. My boy Bruce was in town from Cali, and came along as designated spotter and beer drinker. It was fun. I raced, I fell once, actually won one round, and drank heavily. My man Kevin got third in a crazy close race with Hungry Aaron Wolfe (2nd), and the bohemoth, Andrew Cupcake LaCorte. On the Women's side. Arone Dyer...took it to Tara.,..with style, grace, and toe clips. Doesn't get much better than that.. Wiswell made it to 6th place, and I managed a 9th. Yeah so there were only 15 people...but...top ten is top ten. So there.

Full report, mores pics, and even videos, can be found at www.nyvelocity.com The REALLY fun part, was the ride home. Me, Molloy, and Bruce had gotten ourselves summarily drunk, and were off to get some pizza. Bruce and I were getting ready for Cyclocross Nats, so Bruce decided to do a few dismounts in the middle of Bleeker St. They ended badly...He almost lost his jewels to his rear tire. Scary. But oh so funny. Pizza at Two Boots, a piss in Washington Square Park, and we made it home safe. Bruce tried one more re-mount in my hallway, an nearly ended up a permanent fixture of the wall...but all in all...we made it safe, and had a hell of a good time.

Turkey Race!!!

2006-11-19T08:01:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the last CRCA race of the year...The infamous Turkey Race. It was a normal CRCA - Central Park Race...6:30 AM start time. 6 laps, the only difference was..you are racing for Turkeys. Top 15 finishers got a turkey. There was a great turn-out...I would say 75-80 people started..44 degrees..good times, good times. I was there with two teammates, David Wiswell, and Mike "Margaritaville" Margarite, and all of the usual suspects showed up. I had gone out the night before with my friend Karl who rides Axis, and he had an attack planned in his head, so I was keeping an eye on him and his teammates Molloy and J.Lo waiting for something to happen. I chased down a few attacks...really for no reason other than to ride faster. (Lets keep in mind I have been traveling for 6 weeks, during that time I might have ridden my bike 5 or 6 times) Gabe from ReMax was kickin it at the front, and Mike Sherry and Ken Harris were mixing it up too. Jeff King wins the prize for "off-season attitude"-He showed up after only 3 hours of sleep, with a football jersey on and a 16oz Budwieser King can in his Bottle cage...well played Jeff. About two laps in, som Upper East side bitch let here little cocker spaniel off the leash, and of course the fucker ran right into the peleton. The dog was immediately squashed. Bikes went flying, the owner was screaming like someone took away her credit cards, and all you could smell was burning break pads. I grabbed a handful, and narrowly missed running dead into one of the bodies strown all over the pavement. I looked around just in time to see Karl sliding across the street on his ass. We regrouped, and I checked with the Axis boys to see if they wanted to go back and get him..nope, and off we went. Anyway. J.Lo, and Mike Sherry made a hard effort with 3 laps to go, and got a good gap. I was casually chatting with Molloy, when I saw Ken Harris out of the corner of my eye. He was hard charging up the right hand side, and so I jumped hard to grap his wheel...I got on with Molloy in tow, and we brought the break back fairly quick. (I should NOT train more often...I was feeling pretty good!) So it was to be a sprint. Not my forte. I picked a strong wheel, and spread out to hold it, and just waited. Wiswell was in good position on King's Wheel with Molloy behind him, and mid sprint, some guy botched the line, and Wiswell and King had to sit up to miss him. Meanwile, The Visit Britain boys were out...Ricky Lowe got first, Anthony second, and Kevin Molloy just got the Evil Matt Howard at the line for third. As for me...I think I just made it in turkey range of top 15 or so. We didn't wait around..Me and the Axis boys went for breakfast, the yardbirds that we didn't retrieve would be donated to the local homeless shelter. So there...we did our deed. West Side Jackson Hole, #10, eggs over easy, and yes...we need more coffee. Full results and more pices here: http://www.nyvelocity.com/content.php?id=1139

In Excess

2006-11-16T09:02:00.000-05:00

I just got the IWC Big Pilot...It is the definition of excess...47mm case size. Its HUGE! I have always wanted one, and recently they changed the dial, making these older version very hard to come by. One came my way...I originally bought it to flip, and make a quick buck, but I couldn't help but wear it...and this morning, I just noticed my first scratch. You know what that means? I can't sell it anymore! I gotta just keep on sportin that big bitch. That's fine...I like it alot..... This is the superluminova markings in the dark...

All killer, no filler...

Rsl

What the F!@#!

2006-11-14T08:16:00.000-05:00

I found the article below on NPR's website. This world is fucked up. Wow...we live in a society where people think that being healthy and living longer is a bad thing... I am going to become a Radical...burn all my suits, and protest. Protest what you might ask? EVERYTHING. Ride a Bike, Ruin the Environment July 31, 2006 · Things that on the surface appear to be environmentally sound may not be after thorough analysis. The so-called life cycle costs of an intervention may turn a winner into a loser. A debate currently rages over whether adding ethanol to gas actually saves energy. Now comes the disturbing news that bicycle riding may be an environmental loser. According to a paper authored by professor Karl T. Ulrich of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, there is an immediate energy savings by bicycle riding, since a cyclist is between six and nine times more energy efficient than a single occupant automobile. But Ulrich calculates that cyclists increase their longevity by 10.6 days for every year of cycling. And by living longer, they also stand to consume more energy over their lifetimes. Therefore, cyclists harm the environment more than they help it. Ulrich acknowledges the paradoxical nature of his argument. "As a society, we value longevity more than long-term environmental impact," he writes. "If we did not, we might provide incentives for risky behaviors such as smoking, drug abuse and driving without seat belts." That might be an enticing idea for the beleaguered tobacco industry. "Smoke Marlboros and Save the Environment." Full article is here.. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5595169 Down and Dirty, RK

Less is more...whatever

2006-11-13T08:19:00.000-05:00

I am sitting on an airplane right now at 30,000 feet. I’m having a bad scotch after finishing an even worse sandwich, and I am starting to think about what makes me the way I am. Now keep in mind that I travel a lot for work, and largely this time is spent alone. All this time inside your own head lends itself to self-dissection, self-deprecation, hell…even self loathing. Mostly, it just makes you evaluate where you are at in life. I am a cyclist. For eight months out of the year, I drink, eat, sleep, and breathe cycling. I obsess about bikes, bike parts, races, and training. When the racing season is over though…I always turn to all the other interests that I have in my life that have been neglected over the past ¾ of a year. I love music, watches, fashion, food, wine, sneakers, art, etc. The common thread that pulls all of these things together is that I only like the hard, even impossible to get. The more “limited” the better. Limited release, limited production, limited edition, a good vintage. Is this to say that I covet? Yeah, I guess to some degree, I do covet. If a friend of mine has something hard to get, then I’m super happy for them. I don’t want their stuff. I want my own version. My own end to the hunt. All I know, is that if I can’t have it, I want it that much more, and it sets the wheels in motion to find it. The hunt is on. A few examples come to mind. I like guitars. Acoustic or electric doesn’t matter. My playing ability is just OK, and half of the guitars that I am looking for I don’t deserve in the sense of musical accomplishment, but who cares. Mostly I look for hard to find Fender Stratocasters. This one in particular has always gotten to me. It’s a Stevie Ray Vaughn Signature Edition. I have always looked for a 1996, because it was the Stratocaster Anniversary edition. It is no different than any of the others, save a tiny hidden sticker on the back of the headstock. But that’s the one I want. You don’t see them that often. Largely I look for these things on Ebay, and last year I found one. I botched the bidding, and got outbid at the last minute. I didn’t sleep for a week. The last one a saw before that one was about 3 years ago. Then I just couldn’t afford it. Now, I can, and low and behold, there is one available. I’ve got it all worked out, a good price, all the specs are good, and the guy will even end the auction early to sell it to me. Now…my interest is gone. Now I want the first production year of this version…the 1992. I must be fucking sick. Sure, I’ll find a ’92, and then I’ll only want the ’92 with the Brazilian Rosewood fret board. So goes my life. It’s the same for clothing…It always has to be unique. Hard to get, and sneakers…don’t even get me started on sneakers. I could be called a closeted sneakerhead. Oh yeah…Limited Edition Nike Dunk, LE New Balance, Alife, BAPE, you name it. The crown jewel has been a pair of VisVims, and yes I just found them today. In Italy. I paid way too much for them. But they are cool, thereby making me cool. At least that’s the rational. Stupid I know. So there is the question. What makes some people completely happy once they reach a certain point? A certain job, a certain amount of money or stuff, a certain woman? And more importantly, what makes people like me constantly search for the next best impossibility? This I do not know. It is the question that keeps me up at night, and it’s the answer that keeps me looking.

Tour De Roxbury '06

2006-10-30T17:35:00.000-05:00

I have a greater respect for my friend and teammate Stephen Badger. (www.skntcycling.com). Not because he is the promoter of one of the best events of the year (Tour De Roxbury...duh) but more because he has not gotten his ass kicked out of the house by his wonderful wife, Belinda. Belinda, how you do it, I do not know. You are indeed an angel. So the NYC crew drove up ffrom the city on Saturday, Oct. 21 for the big event. Tour de Roxbury...Badger's 63 mile offroad, cyclocross purgatory. Yeah, Me, Johnson, Baz, and Tracey piled into my car, stacked the bikes on top, and off we went. The idea was dinner with the Badger's hacienda, then beers around the campfire until we were all drunk enough to make the ride that much more horendous the next day. When we arrived, Belinda had a PHENOMENAL Meal prepared (Thanks again to the Badger houselhold) Chicken, Pasta, Salad, Wine..you name it...that girl can cook! We ate like crazy, and then out to start the fire, and start drinking and YES...OH YES...SMORES! I mean...what good is a campfire without roasting marshmallows right? Tracey proved to have the optimal roasting technique...Just brown enough. I, on the other hand tend to just set them on fire. The drinking continues.... Next morning, Belinda has an equally impressive breakfast waiting for us...we eat..ALOT...and off we go. Turnout was great for the TDR. 25 riders...meeting at the local Starbuck's. We roll out. Weather was perfect...started out cold, around 35 degrees, and the sun was out. 2 and a half hours in and Belinda and Tracey meet us with water, gatorade, cokes, oatmeal raisen cookies, and yes...Fig Newtons. We finished with everyone in about 5 hours including the stop, and yes...it was brutal. Gravel roads, long climbs, short steep climbs, paved sections, single-track, and yes a grass runway of the HUGE Woodbury Airport. After, pizza, beer....coma. No seriously , we had the Pizza and the beer, then some espresso, and back to NYC. I haven't had that much fun on a bike since I was in Colorado last Thanksgiving...that says a lot. Badger...Thanks again, and Belinda, thank you for putting up with the Badger...Its a full time job...I know.

Please pass the Xanax

2006-10-30T07:40:00.000-05:00

I travel alot for work. You might even say that traveling IS my work, largely because I spend more time actually travelling to see my clients than I actually spend WITH my clients. For what? To shake their hands, take them out to dinner, pressure them to spend money they don't have to spend. Yep. That about sizes it up. My territory is the entire East Coast of the US as far west as Detroit, Canada, and the Caribbean. Its a big territory for one guy to cover. I keep telling my boss that, but he doesn't listen. When I am talking to my friends, or just random people I meet, and the subject of my work comes up, I always see that same wide-eyed look of excitement on everyone's face when I say "and the Caribbean". Everyone assumes that this is the perk of covering such a large territory. "Well at least you have the Caribbean", they say. I would rather go to Pittsburgh than the Caribbean. In the last month, I have been to: St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, St. Maarten (and St. Martin), San Juan, Aruba, and I am right now in Barbados. Next week, I am in Grand Cayman, and Jamaica, the week after, the Bahamas. I have been to all these places before. I'm sure I will go to them all again. But... be it known, it will be against my will. Let me back up.... I can see how a nice vacation on a beautiful island, with someone you love (or even just someone you like...to see naked) can be a wonderful experience. Romantic island requiring very little clothing, alchohol flows freely, and hotel sex. How could it be bad? Right? Resorts make everything so easy for you, and you have the vacation induced, care free, spend-it-all attitude that makes these experiences memorable and fun. When you are a single guy, traveling alone....for work, to some of the most romantic destinations on earth, the vacation scenery makes you naseous as you order room service for the umpteenth time. That's why I say I would rather travel to Pittsburgh, or Duluth, or any other place that you don't mind going to alone. Its not because I like these places, its precisely the opposite. Work is supposed to be WORK. Going to Duluth, MN in December when its -22 degrees, is WORK. My trips to the Caribbean are work, but it fucks with your head to be trying to get shit done while everyone else is on the beach with fruity fucking umbrella drink in their hand. I also believe in fate, and that you have a limited number of Take-offs and Landings alotted to you in a lifetime. Especially with today's cut-rate commercial airline situation. Iamusing mine up rapidly... Its a lonely existence out here...on the road. Don't kick me in the nuts by throwing a beautiful island in there, complete with utopian happy couples that agree on everything, and gaze into eachother's eyes as the sun slowly dips into the lapis blue fucking ocean. I fly back to NYC tomorrow. I can't wait. 7 hours of flying, with an additional 2 hour layover, and I'll be back where I know what I can expect. Gray, and unforgiving...the way I like it. Where I won't be the only guy wearing black, and wear depression is a welcome part of life. not to mention some decent fucking sushi. So like I said. Until then. Pass the Xanax.

Johnson got a new toy...

2006-10-13T07:52:00.000-04:00

Lact Sunday Angela (Johnson) got a new toy. We built her pimped out Gorilla of a cross bike. Specialized Tricross. Nice. It might be the smallest bike that I have ever seen, apart from the ones you see the parrots ride in those carni side shows. Now to race that beast. I finished building up the Planet X. I have not named my bike. Johnson coined the "Gorilla" monequer for hers...or "Monkey" for those adorable times...me...I never keep them long enough to name them. If I did, I might have to actually deal with the separation anxienty of watching another one go. Or...If I were to personalize it with a name, I might just keep the damn things longer. Whatever....everything is replaceable, except the stuff that's not. Put that in your vaporizer and smoke it.

Today was good day...I didn't have to use my AK

2006-10-07T20:26:00.000-04:00

My Friend Eric..

2006-10-06T11:09:00.000-04:00

Is a pervert. Eric lives in Alabama, and Andy Shen from www.nyvelocity.com happened to click a photo of him at Interbike. ( what are the chances?) Eric was in rare form for this one. Nice job E, you have made me proud.

Booyakasha,

I never thought I would...

2006-10-04T08:26:00.000-04:00

But...I miss NYC right now. I travel alot for work, and this is the busy season for me. So, I guess I could consider myself lucky to make it home most weekends. (It still feels weird to call NYC "home") Even though I am traveling all over the US, and to exotic tropical islands, I can't help but think about how great this time of year is in the city. The weather is perfect...fresh and crisp. The feels clean. The temperature for riding bikes is the best, and the road race season is over, so I can just ride for fun instead of hammering out intervals and weighing my food. Its Cross Season, Its Sweater Season, Its Wine Season, Its Mushroom Season, and I feel like I am missing it all. This is my favorite time of the year to go on long rides with friends, stop for coffee, and pastries, lunch at the Hungarian Pastry Shop after... When I moved to NYC, I guess you could say it was against my will. I was living in Boston, and my employer wanted me in the Jersey/Connecticut/NY area. (Read: New York City, because I wouldn't commit social suicide by living in 'burbs) So I moved. And ya know. I'm glad I did. Now I am addicted to it. New York City is like gambling, in more than one way. Of course there is the addictive quality, You can lose large sums of money just by participating, takes money to make money to make money, and all that jazz. But mainly, when you are up, you are WAY up, and when you are down, its the worst place on the planet. I'm WAY up right now. I'm "All in" for New York. the bitch may drop me on my ass in a week, but right now, I am riding high, and what better time: Its Apple Season. I'm a sentimental sissy, RK

Post Italy Depression

2006-09-28T06:17:00.000-04:00

I am officially back from my 10 days in Italy. Well, at least physically I am. Not to mention the old body clock is still set for +6 hours. What an unbelieveable place. What an unbelievable wedding! I will update more later, but here's a taste.

More later...

Ciao,

Arrivederci Bruce...

2006-09-15T15:31:00.000-04:00

I am leaving in just a few hours for Italy, to watch my boy Bruce get hitched. Pictured above on the cover of Bicycling magazine. I race with Bruce on the Sakonnet Technology cycling team (www.skntcycling.com), and when we happen to be on the same coast (Bruce splits his time between LA and NYC...He's a model...they can do that shit) we have a helluva good time hangin out. His fiance, Laura, is super cool...she rivals me in coffee addiction, and is just super chill. Bruce and Laura are lucky to have one another. So I'm headed to Rome, and then onto Tuscany....Brunello, Proscuito, Espresso, repeat... We've got a great group going...Baz and Tracey, John Podesta, Barry, and Tom Wicus...from the NYC crew... This trip respresents my official BREAK between road and cross season. I'm gonna put on a couple of pounds, do some running, and cycling...largely between cafes... Check back for updates from Tuscany... Stay gold, RK

Indy Fab Double Feature

2006-09-14T09:18:00.000-04:00

OH YEAH! My new cross bikes arrives yesterday...SWEET. A match pair of Independent Fabrication Planet X's. (www.ifbikes.com) Yep, you heard me right, a pair, as in 2 bikes...as in Race bike, and pit bike. It could also be read as obsessive compulsive, or over indulgent, but this is my story, and I'm reading it like this: P....R....O. Pro. The downside of rolling up to a cross race with a match pair of bike is that people will assume that you are fast. I....am not that fast. If speed were the measure of the level of bike I deserve, I would get like half a bike. But I have fun, and my boys at IF (Matty B is the man) got 'em together for me, so it's hard to only get well...one. It's like the last 2 puppies in a litter. You wouldn't want to take away the other ones sister would you? So, for those who don't know, Independent Fabrication is an Employee owned artisan bicycle manufacturer. HAND MADE...start to finish, in Somerville, MA...the heart of the US cross scene. They just celebrated their 10th anneversary last year. They rose like a phoenix out of the fire of Fat City Cycles. Fat closed their doors and left everyone out of work, so four guys, Mike Flannigan, Jeff Buckles, Steve Elmes, and Lloyd Graves, with the help of a proper businessman (John Barmack) Launched Indy Fab with the first frame at the ledgendary Redbones BBQ (www.redbones.com) in Slummerville (I can only degrade Somerville because I used to live there...keep it straight) Then in triple ought, (the year 2000) When Merlin was purchased by Litespeed, they grabbed some unemployed Master Ti welders, and that is what made IF what it is today...check out the site. Buy a t-shirt, or a beer glass, or a Ti/Carbon Road Bike. These are good people that work for a living, and just happen to produce some of the most beautiful bikes on the planet...without the use of robots. Anyway...the Planet X has been ridden by a number of guys to a number of Championships (Tim Johnson, Johs Huseby please stand up) I am super stoked to have them. I have had tons of cross bikes, Aluminum , Steel, Ti...and the Planet X is my favorite...these 2 = my 4th and 5th Planet X's... Coming to a cross course near you I'm done typing now RK

Road Season is DONE...Bring on the Beer.

2006-09-11T22:10:00.000-04:00

So yesterday (Sunday, Sept. 10) was the Nancy Morgenstern Memorial Bear Mountain Fall Classic Road Race. They do this one twice a year, Spring and Fall. As if once wasn't enough...Its put on by Mike Green and the CRCA (www.crca.net) and I have to say, it is one of the nicest courses I have ever raced on. Its a 14 mile loop with a nasty 50 mph downhill into a 180 degree turn in to an even nastier 2 mile-ish climb, followed by a section of rollers, a nice flat section...yep more rollers, feed zone...vomit...repeat. Its tough..brutal. I might have cried a little...somewhere on the third lap. I was in the 3's..we did 70 miles (5 laps) the P/1/2's do 6 laps. (poor bastards) The weather was the best...65-70 degrees, and sun. Bear Mountain notoriously has horrible weather. In the spring, it was 45 degrees with a nice British misty rain. I made it 2 laps in the Spring before curling into the fetal position and sucking my thumb in the feed zone. This Sunday was a little different. I felt pretty good coming into it. I took an easy week of training, and Saturday had an awesome ride with my friend Angela...followed by lunch and coffee at the Hungarian Pastry Shop. Sweet.. I even had a beer on Saturday night. I mean screw it...its the last race of the season, and my goal was just to finish the damn thing. (It was a Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA for those who care, and yes, I'm drinking one right now) So, I ate, I warmed up, and rolled to the line. Craig Abrahms (CRCA/Jonathon Adler) and I were discussing our strategy at the start line...we both had the same idea: DON'T GET DROPPED. Off we went, and vefore you know it...I felt OK...breathing out of my eyeballs, but OK. In the peleton, I caught up with my friend Gabe..(CRCA/ReMAX) He just got back from a month racing in Belgium, so it was good to catch up...while gasping for air. He took a flyer for a lap and a half, and when he came back...he said,"Its not this hilly in Belgium" (Chimay, Saison Dupont, Strange Ghost...Brilliant Belgian Beers..sorry...I have beer on the brain) Anyway...On we went. Some breaks got away, and we brought them back. We caught the last break about 5 miles from the finish...then we caught the P/1/2's...and passed them. Yes, it was fast. My teammate, Mike "Margeritaville" Margerite's girlfriend Audrey hooked me with an awesome feed..but my dumb ass didn't drink enough of it...with 2 miles to go, I was in the front group, and I got a crippling cramp in my hamstring. We were all together...I was in good position, but had to soft-pedal to try and work the cramp out...it let go, so I started making my way up for the sprint...when it went, I stood up, and that cramp grabbed me by the balls, and sat me right back down. I got 19'th...80 people started. I'm OK with that...especially since just a few months ago..I didn't finish the race. My boy Gabe got 5th...nice. In the P/1/2...Navigators...yep a few of those knackers showed up to punish the boys. My teammates did Great....Lee Rosenthal got 8th, and Margeritaville got 11th. Local hard man Will Riffelmacher (Westwood Velo) got 6th. (Will was a Cat.4 at the begining of this season. Just so you know) He made a massive solo effort on the first lap only to be caught on the last lap, at one point putting 6 minutes on the field. Of course Bernard Van Ulden (Navigators) attacked and won...the Best quote was from race promotor Mike Green to Will....about him putting 6 minutes on the field he said, "Van Ulden raced Univest yesterday, and went clubbing all night in NYC, So, don't feel like you did anything out there today" I thought there were going to be fists a flyin'....Margeritaville, Audrey, Gabe, Will Riff, Will's girlie Sarah, and I went to this Diner.."The Ivy League of Diners" it said on the 20 page menu...and we ate...TONS...it was 3:30 PM. Mike had Pancakes, Will had a waffle with ice cream on top...and a milkshake...I had a Turkey club with a double order of fries, and yes I dipped them in mayonaise... So, all in all...A great day. It was a good safe race. This is most everyone's last race of the season, and the mood in the peleton was...well...fun. All year long, we talk shit in the pack, but this race, was different...we won't see alot of these guys all winter...we've all spent hours in the hurt locker together...its a little sad. Like your last day of school..happy, but sad at the same time....I sound like a f'in woman... Aw Hell...the hard men race cross...they're the cool kids anyway...I'll see their asses all winter. Scratch all that sentimental shit. Over an out, RK Full results here: http://www.crca.net/races06/harrimanfall.htm More pics, courtesy of Marco Quezeda here: http://www.nyvelocity.com/content.php?section=2

Approaching Boulder

2006-09-09T07:58:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is my last road race of the season. Bear Mountain...(www.crca.net) is a fitting end. Or demise, I should say. I have been done with this season in my head for a couple of weeks now... I have started bulding cross bikes, watching cross videos, and for god's sake...running. The true sign of me flipping the mental "switch" is BEER. I have been drinking it...ALOT. I mean, how can you not this time of the year. All if the great small batch brewerys out there start coming out with limited release, fall, Octoberfest type stuff...and its all that. But really what I'm looking forward to...Yep...Boulder. I spent Thanksgiving last year in Nederland just up slope from Boulder, CO with some great friends of mine, Josh and Megan, and wealth of people from their hood. The weather couldn't have been better. There was snow on the ground, but the trails were clear, so we did an average of 3 hours of single wide dirt bike trails on Single speeds...and when we finished, we drank beer, and ate Megan's homemade pumpkin pie. (Not from the can either...straight up pumpkins)

So, I booked my ticket already...5 sweet ass days in Ned at the Harrod compound...and this year, I've got a new SingleSpeed...vintage Michael/Jessica Spot Brand 29'er (those who know...know) (www.spotbikes.com) Last year I brought a nice Single Malt...Lagavulin 16...oddly enough, its cheaper hear in NYC...this year, I'm gonna step it up...Josh, Timmy, Mr. Fitness, Megan...get ready...think small batch, limited release, and really old. I have been trying to move to Boulder for the better part of 10 years, and I can never quite get it together. I have always been the cautious guy that tried to find a job before I move halfway across the country...call me crazy, but I could never quite get it together. Now, as I get older, and my career gets more involved, it seems even more difficult. One of these days...maybe not too long from now...I will say to hell with it all. Pack my car, my bikes, and head West. Leave all this bullshit furniture, the suits, the ties, the shiny shoes, and take it to the mountains. Work in a bike shop again, and just make enough money to feed myself, and to have some fun along the way. Do we really need anything more than that? Who knows, this year, maybe I won't come back...

Fight the power,

Shellac just pisses me off...

2006-09-06T20:46:00.000-04:00

But in a good way. I should probably start by clarifying things a bit. Shellac is a band. What? You thought that I was going to go into some rant about how volatile refinishing furniture makes me? If I had any experience with that, it could be the case, but sorry, no Bob Villa here. So back to Shellac.... Shellac is a band. I band I happen to like and respect a lot. I have been trying to see them live for the better part of 10 years, and in combination with their spotty tour dates, and the whole wrong place wrong time thing, I haven't been able to. Until this last Saturday night. I thought I was going to be out of town (again!) so I hadn't bought tickets. So when my travel plans fell threw, it left me scambling. I made phone calls, e-mails, searched the beloved e-bay, and finally I posted on craig's list. HA! I found a ticket! Friday before the show, I had arranged to meet this guy who had an extra ticket, and pay him an exorbenent amount of money for it. Last I heard, he was going to be at my place in 15 minutes. 5 hours later, I still had no ticket. In the mean time, I had gotten a call from someone else who saw my post. I thought I was taken care of, so turned him away. Lucky for me the trusty cell phone saved his number. I called him back, and he had one ticket left. I felt like Charlie and the friggin' chocolate Factory... I met him Saturday, in the rain, and paid him even more money. But...I got my ticket. I was finally going to see Shellac. The show was in Brooklyn, at the Europa Club in Greenpoint. I took the opportunity to have dinner and this great place in Williamsburg called Diner, where my friend Angela works (www.crankyankers.org) I fueled up with several Chimays (the Devil's work), a kick ass steak, and chatted with Johnson before I headed out. At the club, Uzeda opened...Whatever. Then the show started....HOLY F!@#! This is what I have been waiting for. Brilliant show. I would do it all over again tomorrow. Every song sounded just a little better live than on recordings, mix that with the Shellac's interaction with the crowd, and it ranks as one of the best shows I have ever seen. So now a little background: Shellac is a three-piece made up of Steve Albini, Todd Trainer, and Bob Weston. Albini was formerly in Big Black, and his day job is producing hit records for people like Nirvana, PJ Harvey, Liz Phair, and oh yeah..the Pixies. Bob Weston (formerly from Volcano Sun) does some kick ass productions as well, Like Archer's of Loaf and June of 44 ...and Todd, well he's just a skinny guy that can play the shit out of some drums. Shellac has been described as the Harley Davidson of the underground music scene. An American version of British punk rock, bred from baseball and heavy metal. Its raw, its angry, and it sounds really good. They are on Touch and Go/Quarterstick Records (http://www.tgrec.com) Check 'em out...or don't...I don't care. Needless to say, I have been listening to them non-stop since, and I have started to build in my brain, a soundtrack to my Cyclocross season. To be released via my I-pod, while on a trainer in some cold parking lot, just before I cough blood for 45 minutes in a 'cross race. So there, RK

Cross Season!!

2006-09-05T08:25:00.000-04:00

So I bought new running shoes this weekend. That can only mean one thing. Cross season. I love racing cyclocross. Its fun, its technical, its short and intense. Kinda like my past relationships.. I like it because I can train sporadically, and still do OK, and crashing doesn't hurt nearly as bad as the road. The one thing I don't like like about the whole deal is, you guessed it: Running. Mentally running might be one of the hardest things for me to get jazzed up for. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate it, and I'm not that bad at it, but that whole "runner's high" thing has never been the monkey on my back. I have been hanging out recently with several people who run marathons like its their job, and I tried having the discussion about my mental block on long distance running. Keep in mind, I had had a few beers. They were saying that its not any harder for them to run 18 miles than it is for me to ride my bike 60 miles. Yeah, O.K.....BUT WE CAN COAST! Cyclists stand up, sit down, stop for coffee and muffins....whatever, anything to distract ourselves. To me it seems like a long run would be like locking me in a room with myself for 5 hours. Yeah, exactly...Brutal. There is only so much time I spend in my own head. So. It works out well. I race bikes, and cyclocross only requires a minimal amount of running. So I'll do my hill sprints, High Knee lifts, and Stairs, and leave the long distance business to the mentally stable. Out, RK

Laughing Why?

2006-09-04T09:56:00.000-04:00

Alright...So here I am in Blog world...And when I was trying to come up with some creative topic that could be interesting enough to write about day after day, this is what I came up with. First, I am a cyclist. I like bikes. I race bikes. Second, I like to have a good time. I like beer. I like music. And I like people that aren't dumb asses. Third, I like to do both. I like to ride and race my bikes, and have a good time all at the same time. Sure, that is not always the way it goes, but in the world of competitive cycling, we sometimes take it too seriously, and more often than not, we forget about why we started riding bikes in the first place.... When your a kid, its the only freedom that you have. You have to be home by dark, and you need to maximize your universe, which at that point in your life is equal the furthest point from your house that you can travel, and still make it home on time. (or relatively on time) That's where the bikes comes in...Its all about getting out of the reach of the man (represented here by you parents). Some of you out there never looked at your bike again once you got the old driver's license, and some of us...Still don't want to grow up. So why "The Laughing Group"? You cyclists out there know what it means. For everyone else, here is the definition as posted on a great website: www.dailypeloton.com : Laughing Group - Group of riders not contesting the front of a race but trying to stay inside the time limit or just finish the race. Used like "came in with the laughing group". So there. Look, I'm not saying I'm not competitive, and I'm not saying that I don't try and win every race I enter, but what I am saying is, It its not fun, I ain't interested. That's it. That's all I got. Check back for random BS. If you like cycling, single-speeds, cyclocross, beer, and music. I'll talk about that some too, Over and out, RK