Archive Page 3

Last year it was coat hangers. Five of them distributed across the bike lane in the middle of an awkward 3-way intersection. Perhaps they were laid there by some disgruntled dry cleaner or the person who jettisoned an assortment of blue children’s bathing suits a mile or two up the road. The hangers sat there for months defying street sweepers and car tires to move them.

I started to wonder if they were being replaced and repositioned each night just to add another obstacle to the daily commute’s challenge of nails, sheet metal screws, pull hooks, pins, nuts, bolts, bungee cords, broken glass, batteries, assorted plastic cutlery and the occasional left shoe. (why left, always left?)

Call them the occupational hazards of the professional bicycle commuter. You watch the road and stay sharp or the sharp bits get you sooner or later. I’ll tempt fate by saying that since having a bad stretch this summer, I’ve gone three months and 1500 miles since the last flat. The breakaway will get caught tomorrow morning then, guaranteed.

Of course, it’s always the bullet you don’t see that kills you. I’m reminded of that famous line by all the stuff that crackles, pops and pings beneath our tires, sight unseen. My favorites are the gunshots that go off sending projectiles sideways into passing cars (never react), unsuspecting friends or once, spectacularly, hitting the front window of a house 30 feet away.

Stranger still is the invisible but audible debris you trigger several days running. Given the width of a road tire that wouldn’t seem possible, but mystically it is. I guess my line of travel is just that precise. It’s that confounding precision you experience after repeatedly running over the same sunken drain camouflaged in the shadows of a tree-lined street. And don’t get me started about the blue lizard sunning himself in the road on Mondays and Tuesdays.

You tell that to the young people of today, and they won’t believe you.

Latest Press Release from the Armstrong Camp.

The route of the 2009 Tour de France strikes me as innovative and very interesting. From its start in Monte Carlo with a 15k time trial, to the reinstatement of the team time trial, to stages in my old hometown of Girona all the way to another visit to my old friend the Ventoux, I could not have hoped for a different Tour.

While there has been a fair bit of tension and numerous disagreements with the Tour and its organizers, I am well aware that there is new leadership at ASO and I look forward to upcoming conversations and to a mutually beneficial future together. Whether it's promoting the Livestrong global cancer campaign or making the biggest bike race in the world the gem that it deserves to be, I look forward to next year. I would also like to recognize the UCI and commend them for their aggressive stance against doping, a stance that is unmatched in all of world sport.

Lastly, as to the leadership of the Astana team in 2009. It is illogical to pre-select a leader for any race in October of the previous year. We are blessed at Astana to have the strongest team in the world and I look forward to riding with all of these great riders. I have been around long enough to know that cycling is a team sport and I am fully committed to supporting the strongest rider in any race. Whether that's me, Alberto Contador, Levi Leipheimer, or Andreas Kloden.

Interesting that this comes on the heels of today's comments from Eddie Merckx (as reported by Velonews), who might be considered an Armstrong insider, suggesting Lance wouldn't ride the Tour de France again. I get the feeling Lance is quite happy to settle the question of Team leadership "on the road." He neatly sidestepped the escalating discord with the ASO a few weeks back by suggesting he didn't need to ride the Tour, but I have the feeling it's still firmly in his sights. Today's rapprochement is an interesting step in this chess game.

Bikes and Builders    Gallery

Background. Every cyclist and every driver in the U.S. should be required to spend time in Portland. At 5pm Friday I stepped out of the Oregon Manifest show onto N. Weidler Street on my way back across the river to the aptly-named Hotel Deluxe. I don't think I moved for the next twenty minutes as a constant stream of commuting cyclists rode by: young and old; male and female; on all manner of bikes.

Commuting year round in the bay area I'm lucky if I see half-a-dozen cyclists coming or going on my South bay route (and that's during the summer months). In Portland there were that many cyclists stopped at every red light. It was an amazing sight and an inspiring glimpse of how transportation should be working everywhere.

It's no wonder then that Portland and the North West has such a rich bike builder culture. I met stock analysts, librarians, big company escapees and backshop mechanics at the show, and they all wanted to turn their passion for the bicycle into their day & night job.

There was Sean Chaney at Vertigo Cycles who took a class in titanium welding and hasn't looked back. His beefy cross design sported massive bowed chainstays and unique top tube ports for internal cable routing. Per local custom the bike was unwashed.

Dave at Velvet Cycles works in steel when he's not working the stacks. In addition to a sweet Track bike with kryptonite green cranks, seatpost, handlebar and hubs, there was an off-road fixed rig with what I called "Suicide" seat stays (pic) that showcase his refined hand-filing skills. The stays look great, like they'd been cut from bar stock, but Dave will be testing them for durability before declaring them a regular starter.

Joseph Ahearne's bicycles, complete with elegant racks were standouts with stylish touches like the celtic headtube badge, double top tube, two-tone paint, fenders and gracefully arcing handlebars.

333Fab is Maxwell Kullaway and Bernard Georges of Seattle. The team builds race bikes in steel and titanium, with a judicious use of carbon where appropriate. Slate Olson was riding his 333fab singlespeed in the Cross Crusade that Sunday... I'll take that as a ringing endorsement.

Of all the materials employed by the craftsmen at the show, none was more surprising and intriguing than wood. Renovo's R2 road frame (pic), available in a variety of woods was notable for it's blend of old school material and high-tech manufacturing. And there was the Wheel Fanatyk's gorgeous, luminous Ghisallo wood rims (pic). Available to accept tubs or clinchers, these wheels are reputed to smooth out the worst road surfaces. They certainly were pretty.

I Want those Wellies

Vanilla and Sacha White were in the house with several bikes including the offshoot Speedvagen - brand cross bike that graced the Edge Composites booth at Interbike. Light, fast and unquestionably durable, Speedvagen is really the only way to satisfy your taste for Vanilla with the full-custom waiting list stretching out five years (and for the foreseeable future closed to new orders).

Rapha's Fall/Winter Line Offers Refined Perfection

The new offerings from Perren Street merit much more attention than I'm about to give them here, but fear not, with so many pieces on the way to the Velodramatic wardrobe, there's plenty of time and miles to give them the coverage they deserve.

I count myself lucky to have met and spent time with Graeme Raeburn, the latest addition to Rapha's design team. Graeme expertly walked me through the nuances and refinements of the collection, and there's an impressive number of them to catalog.

I've already admitted the Winter Gilet was my favorite piece; a no-questions acquisition that's going to see lots of action as the weather turns cooler. Five pockets, shaped tricot collar, quiet softshell fabric with Hytrel® membrane and a cut that marries comfort and style are what makes this undeniably pro.

The same fabric finds an equally compelling deployment in the long-awaited softshell winter gloves (pictured above) and here. I'd ordered these last winter but Rapha's quality control czar rejected them as substandard. Now they're back, production issues have been resolved, and they're definitely worth the wait. The light softshell fabric provides a second-skin fit with just the right amount of compression. I slipped on the medium and for a moment considered running for the door. Patience. I can wait a week or two more for supple, sniper-padded, leather and softshell bliss.

While I wait for the gloves, I'll be enjoying the tailored minimalism of the Fixed Jacket, but I'll save that report for another post, this one has run its course.

"Madness... madness... madness."       View Gallery

The final words in David Lean's epic, The Bridge on the River Kwai seem an appropriate way to sum up the maniacal spectacle of Saturday night's Rapha RollerCross. The Leftbank building wasn't destroyed in the process, but for a while there it looked possible.

Most of you reading this are probably familiar with Rapha's roller race format. Multiple cyclists saddle fixed, side-by-side roller bikes and sprint flat out for 500 meters (qualifying rounds). Fastest rider wins the heat. Multiple rounds eventually produce mens and womens winners, with the final extending to 1000 meters.

Only this is Portland, and it's cross season and it ain't going to be that easy. On this night, the fastest rider had an advantage, but cinch your shoes a bit too tight, and the dismount would be awkward and someone else would get to the Zoobomb pile (awkward kid's bikes) first and the one-lap obstacle-littered sprint round the room would be lost. And that's exactly how it played out in several heats.

The teams taking to the stage included: Team Beer; Super Relax; The Gentle Lovers; and the Grundlebruisers. Some of their antics would qualify them for carnie life or a B grade porn career but all of them could ride their pants off... and many of them did.

Backed by heavy bass from the DJ stage right contestants paraded into the lions' den in costume, wigs and aerodynamic drag. There was plenty of trash talk, particularly from Team BEEEEEEER! while the ale-fueled crowd held up signs and screamed encouragement. Amidst all the chaos, the long-legged lady Caroline lent an air of grace to the rabid proceedings.

Return with me to the Zoobomb pile for a moment. These devilish contraptions were the wild card. Sometimes the first bike grabbed broke free cleanly, other times it held fast to its siblings with all the stopping power of a boat anchor. Rider two or three often made a better choice and darted down the ramp in the lead – or two riders grabbed the same Zoobomb and while they battled for the bike an opportunist stole the race. This truly was the roller equivalent of a no-holds-barred, no-quarter-given Stumptown cross race.

It was loud, it was raucous and it was great fun. Slate, Daniel, Carey, Tristan, Brian and the many hands that pitched in hustled all night to keep the racers rolling and the place from exploding. The gallery should give you some idea of the atmosphere. I'm looking forward to Brian's video and Daniel's account later today.

Next up images and impressions from the Oregon Manifest show.

I didn't use the term invasion lightly. When 1200 riders plus supporting family and 'infantry' disembark from landing craft and establish a beach head for a cross race, what else would you call it. Sunday I joined the legions christening a hilly Villebois circuit for race two of the ORBA Cross Crusade Series. Slate had done his best to talk me into riding (next year) but I decided to stick to the sidelines and cover the course with my Canon. Londoners Simon, Rupert and Graeme visiting from Rapha HQ were game though, and with borrowed bikes and new cross kit they enthusiastically took the plunge. Well done lads.

After scouting the 1.6-mile circuit as it wound its way through a two-tiered landscape of berms and basins I decided to set up shop on the high ground. Since I wasn't prepared for slop, I was happy the dry, fast conditions allowed me to move freely over the earthworks looking for the right angles. Over the next six-and-a-half hours I'd shoot more than 2000 raw frames.

It's difficult to sum up the atmosphere. Supporters shouted encouragement at every turn when they weren't jangling their cowbells. For lunch I enjoyed a delicious poke of Fries from a family-operated stand offering a race special – cowbell and chips for $20. The massive fields bantered with each other and the spectators. They raced hard and clean; complimented each other on smooth turns and recoveries; and heaped good-natured abuse when someone they knew screwed up.

Many of the Oregon Manifest builders were representing; racing their own bikes even after two long days of standing and talking. I saw Max of 333Fab pronounced Triple Three Fab, Sean from Vertigo, Chris King's Chris DiStefano and Vanilla's Sacha White on course. Max, Chris and Sacha had ridden Rapha's boisterous Roller Cross the night before too.Chris King himself was manning the CK race tent first thing and he'd been a quiet supportive, presence throughout the weekend celebration. Cool.

Enough talk then. I've broken the photography into two galleries. My picks, a small gallery of the images that tell the story of the day and the BIG BIN (an enormous catalog of everything else). If you raced you're likely to find your image in the BIG BIN, if you've got the patience to look.

Best of Cross Crusade 2008 Gallery

The BIG BIN Gallery - all 97 pages

You know that ache you feel when you've earned your sleep, that's how I felt last night and still feel this morning (which doesn't bode well for work productivity today). I'll have lots to say and plenty of imagery up this week on the Velodramatic weekend in Portland. The Oregon Manifest show, Rapha's full-contact RollerCross madness Saturday night and yesterday's Cross Crusade were a caffeinated blend of stumptown's extraordinary bike culture and exploding cross scene. It is a pilgrimage that must be taken.

Slate, Daniel, Carey, Tristan, Simon, Rupert, Graeme, Greg, Kyle, Chris, Rob, Ira and all the builders and riders I met in three eye-opening days... thanks. More to come.

Flashback. Eight-thirty a.m. and the blue-haired seniors are chain-smoking their way through another tub of quarters at the Venetian slots. Dealers shuffle from foot to foot at their empty tables waiting for the action to pick up, or the world to end. In their ruddy brown uniforms they look sad, empty and in need of ironing. There's no sign of Frank, Dean or Sammy; this feels like Fry's Electronics with a bigger architectural budget.

It's day three of interbike and I'm dead tired after two 20-hour tours of duty. I'm nibbling on my four dollar muffin surfing the tidal bore of attendees coursing towards the Sands Convention Center and the show's final act. Messenger bags, plus fours and body art adorn the younger set; it's probably the only week of the year you can walk a single speed through the casino without getting tackled. A few plump salmon gambling against the current don't stand a chance, they either make it to the slots or get swept downstream into the show.

And what a show... nothing can quite prepare the novice for the spectacle of gear, gadgetry and garb served up by over 900 exhibitors. The venue floor is a maze of industry giants, up-and-comers and fledgling startups oriented by some logic known only to oracles and political wedding planners. Navigating with a combination of dead reckoning and the stars (Mavic, Campagnolo, Cervélo) I managed to find my way around sticking to familiar but circuitous routes. Note to trade show organizers: start thinking about GPS, just don't rely on Garmin for software.

A week later I'm still trying to sort it all out. Here are some highlights.

Bicycles – Isaac Sonic, Velodramatic Best-in-Show

There were so many beautiful bicycles at the show singling out just one wasn't easy. Cervélo had the S3 in gleaming black and silver livery, demonstrating a fresh visual sensibility. The Edge Composites booth was literally ringed by seductive, desirable models (the two-wheeled kind) from Vanilla, Parlee, and Crumpton all wearing Edge carbon. Then there was Museeuw Bikes with what looked like new paint across the range. The MF-3 was a standout along with the new 50/50 carbon/flax wheels.

All of these rides would make me happy, but it was the Isaac Sonic that really got my heart racing. Pictured above, the Sonic was fitted out with Campagnolo's Super Record group and CarbonSports Lightweight wheels guaranteeing it would be unsuitably expensive. The Sonic tubes are massive, but in keeping with the company's appreciation for natural forms, they flow seamlessly into each other.

For all it's brawn the Sonic's clean, understated paint and type-inspired graphics clinched the deal. I'm not sure I'd roll with gold handlebar tape (I don't have the shoes to match) but it sure looked good on the display bike. If the economy ever gets over its nightmare, I'm dreaming there's an Issac in my garage in 2009.

Clothing – Mavic, Panache and a Visit from Rapha

Even though Rapha was officially sitting this one out, U.S. G.M. Slate Olson was keeping his finger on the pulse and checking out the show. Slate, Jeremy Dunn (editor of Embrocation magazine) and I met up for lunch on day two and I got see the new Rapha Softshell Gilet. I loved it, and I'm pleased to say the one I ordered arrived last week. I wore it commuting the next three days and it fits and functions as good as it looks. This is a versatile piece of kit and sure to go fast. Get your order in if you want to enjoy one this winter.

Elsewhere big yellow (Mavic) introduced their luxurious new shoe and clothing lines. Leveraging big daddy Salomon's Design Center in Annecy and its access to rarefied technical fabrics, Mavic has assembled an impressive offering that is as broad as it is deep. The Zxellium shoe in optic yellow and its mountain equivalent, the Fury, are featherweights that feature unique closures immune to the material memory that Mavic claims compromise typical straps. The full, matte-finished carbon soles are as sleek as the uppers and happily their threaded inserts are user replaceable. Several riders in the CrossVegas pack appeared to be wearing the Fury shoe.

In the essential department, Mavic will offer nine varieties of bibs/knickers including the Stealth short that's entirely without seams. Just looking at it made my essentials comfortable.

On a purely visual note, I really like what Mavic designers have done with the stylized "M" throughout the lines. It's used effectively as: a background field on shoe liners; repeated vertically on jacket zippers; horizontally banded on socks and singularly as an accent with pulls, badges, appliques and labels.

Newcomer and Velodramatic favorite, Panache Cyclewear, had a small, cozy display befitting a brand new outfit. It was great to meet founder, Don Powell in person after having exchanged countless emails with him over the past few months. He and designer Dylan Nelson showed attendees some polished, race-inspired pieces available now along with a few novel ideas coming soon. Look for clever overshoe gaskets and an under-jersey wind screen in the not-too-distant future.

Don proudly wore the Panache Training Jersey and Eleven bibs in the industry crit race Thursday night and despite getting involved in an early crash, came back strong to finish the 40 laps in tenth place.

Gear – Edge Composites, Super Record 11, Gore RideOn cables, Allay Saddles

I mentioned earlier that Edge Composites had assembled a sublime collection of bicycles to celebrate the companies growing reputation for quality carbon tubes, wheels and forks used by the likes of Parlee and Crumpton. Recently they've added a seatpost and handlebar to the mix. I'm not sure when they'll be available. I've emailed Jason for an answer.

I'm still getting used to my Ligero-built Edge Composites 38s... the differences between aluminum and deep-section carbon are more than I anticipated and I compounded the issue by going with Zipp carbon-specific pads over the recommended Swiss Stop Yellows. Sometimes I take the whole black and white thing too far. Jason set me straight and there's now a set of yellow pads headed my way. It will be great to stop again. Troy Watson of Ligero has a huge interbike gallery on Flickr. It features plenty of shots of the Edge booth and gear. Definitely worth checking out.

Edge Composites is a company to watch.

Campagnolo Record 11 and Super Record were the jewels of the show and everyone who was anyone was wearing them. I have no close up photographs of the components because I couldn't stop my hands shaking in their proximity. In lieu of that I substituted the fictional 11-speed ad below... the fishnet is a special carbon weave. The "11" bicycle WAS in the Campagnolo booth.

Gore impressed with the return of their RideOn Cable systems recently reintroduced to the North American and European markets. Standard equipment with SRAM's RED group set, the low-friction system is available in two flavors: standard; and sealed (within a continuous liner). Gore's Lois Mabon explained the system and the improvements that should make installation significantly easier for mechanics and wannabes alike. I'll have a feature and long-term road test of the sealed system soon.

I also spent time with Allay Saddles. Using technology that brings back memories of the Nike pump, Allay employs an air bladder under the front half of the saddle. The AirSpan feature is designed to alleviate pressure on that essential region we keep talking and worrying about. Given how easy it is to add and remove air this has got to be a boon on epic rides. Thanks to Allay I'll have one of these saddles installed on my commute bike for testing over the winter. I would point out that if you tune the AirSpan repeatedly while riding there's a good chance your fellow riders might think you're up to something else. Is that an AirSpan in your saddle or are you just glad to meet me?

And that does it for the highlights (well almost all of them). I learned more than I bargained for in the three days, met friends, made new ones and arranged to demo plenty of product in the coming year. If there was a disappointment, it was with the photography. With so much to cover it was difficult to talk and shoot at the same time. Next year I'll approach the event slightly differently. I'll start looking forward to it just as soon as I've caught up on my sleep.

I just received a press release from Lance Armstrong's Manager Mark Higgins concerning Pierre Bodry's proposal to retest samples from the 1999 Tour de France. While conspiracy theorists on either side of the issue will have a field day whatever the results, Lance issued the following statement today.

Today, Mr. Pierre Bodry, the new head of the French anti-doping agency proposed that they retest samples from the 1999 Tour de France. Unfortunately, Mr. Bodry is new to these issues and his proposal is based on a fundamental failure to understand the facts. In 2005, some research was conducted on urine samples left over from the 1998 and 1999 Tours de France. That research was the subject of an independent investigation, and the conclusions of the investigation were that the 1998 and 1999 Tour de France samples have not been maintained properly, have been compromised in many ways, and even three years ago could not be tested to provide any meaningful results. There is simply nothing that I can agree to that would provide any relevant evidence about 1999.

In addition, the Independent Investigation concluded that the French laboratory, the French Ministry of Sport, and Dick Pound, the former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, all behaved improperly with respect to the 1999 Tour de France samples. The Independent Investigation concluded that both Mr. Pound and the French laboratory engaged in improper conduct that violated a number of regulations and laws. After the report of the Independent Investigator was issued, Mr. Pound's conduct was submitted to the IOC Ethics Commission and the IOC Ethics Commission censured Mr. Pound.

What the Report of the Independent Investigation did recommend, was that the issues of the conduct of Mr. Pound, the World Anti-Doping Agency, the French Ministry, and the French laboratory should be submitted to an independent tribunal, in particular the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the Court for the entire Olympic movement, to address the issues and improper conduct identified by the Independent Investigator. Two years ago I agreed to have all of these issues aired and decided by that tribunal, but WADA and the French Ministry refused. If Mr. Bodry would now like to re-examine the past, he must start with presenting the issues of the misconduct of the French laboratory, the French Ministry, and WADA before a proper tribunal.

To avoid any questions going forward and to avoid any distractions from my primary purpose to launch a global campaign against cancer, I am working with the man who has been the leader of the world anti-doping community for the past twenty-five years. I approached Dr. Don Catlin in August and proposed to him that he should develop a comprehensive drug testing protocol, to test my blood and urine as often as he believes is appropriate, in order for him to determine categorically whether I have taken any performance-enhancing drugs. As I have stated, I have given Dr. Catlin my permission to post all of my testing results on the internet. Dr. Catlin is developing a protocol that will be available to other athletes who may want to subject themselves to such a rigorous drug testing regimen that Dr. Catlin or other leading anti-doping experts can determine whether they have used performance enhancing drugs.

In 2005 VeloNews reported that Christiane Ayotte, Doping Control Director at Canada's Institut National de la Recherché Scientifique was surprised that samples stored since 1999 could still show evidence of EPO when tested. That had not been the experience in her lab. Now three years on, and a full nine years since the Armstrong samples were taken the French authorities would like to retest. I fully support new protocols that call for long term profiling and storage of samples for future study, but given the particular circumstances around this case, this looks like persecution.

The independent investigator ruled against the French authorities already and this just seems like another attempt to spin the wheel in the hope of getting the result they want. It's a no win situation for Armstrong. If he agreed he'd be throwing out his earlier vindication, and if he declined (which he has today) the innuendo machine can continue its work.

On the road Lance is nothing if not cool and calculating. Frankly I cannot imagine that if he had doped that he would come back to the sport with so much on the line; his legacy; his endorsements; his charity; and most importantly the hundreds of thousands of cancer survivors that continue the fight because of his inspiration. No one with that much spiritual responsibility would risk destroying so many hearts. In their zeal to find fault, I wonder if the French authorities have considered the true human cost of what they are doing? Let it go.