Sprocket Rocket

2 steps forward 1 step back

2011-05-18T11:14:00.000-04:00

Not much cycling news to report since last week since the weather continues to be the worst in recent memory. Sweetie and I ran the Race for the Cure on Saturday and then Sunday was spent prepping the garden and planting 3 tomatoe plants. Was hoping to get more done in the garden but Mother Nature had other plans. By the time the third plant was in the ground I was working in a steady drizzle of cold rain. Enough fun for one day - the rest of the plants will have to wait.

I can relate!

Was able to ride 3 days last week including Tuesday's hammer fest in Delaware and Wednesday's WBC Hoover ride with the "A" group. Thursday was an easier recovery ride for me and since then the bike has sat in the basement waiting for dry weather to return Whatever gains in fitness were realized last week have probably slipped away over the last 6 rainy days. The rain is forecast to continue for the next 2 days.

Colorado and BTC are less than a month away. I'm hoping for some serious saddle time between now and then.

A Review of the Past Week

2011-05-06T20:14:00.000-04:00

Well, the past week has been a busy one for me. The job, family, housework and a few other activities took priority over the blog. Fortunately the past week also included a few nice rides and an opportunity to tune up my karma.

Tom's Trillium Tour TTT): Last Saturday I rode the TTT which began in Nelsonville and wandered through some beautiful sections of the Hocking Hills into Athens and then along the bike trail back to the start at Hocking College. Started off with Ted, Greg, Rich and Steve but turned off as they pressed on to complete the 100 mile loop. I ended up with around 70 miles and couldn't have enjoyed the ride more! The roads were great, the route very well marked and the scenery was outstanding. The Athens Bicycle Club puts on this ride and I plan to add it to my "must do" list in the future.

WBC Road Cleanup: On Sunday Sweetie and I joined up with about 6-7 other Westerville Bike Club members for a road clean-up along the club's "adopt a highway" section of road north of Westerville. My understanding is that our section of road is much easier to clean-up now compared to the first outing when more debris was laying along the side of the road. But we still found a mother load of beer bottles, wine bottles and cigarette butts and wrappers. There were even a few articles of undergarments collected for good measure. Speculation over the possibility that all these items were related to one another in some way was a topic of discussion throughout the day.

Amy Rees & John Clectner with the fruits of their labor during the WBC road clean-up.

Thursday New Albany Ride: the weather cleared nicely on Thursday and my work schedule allowed me to make it to the COP New Albany ride. After sizing up the A riders and taking stock of how I felt, I decided to ride with the B's. Things started off a bit easy but the paced picked up nicely as we hit the rollers. Our original group of 30 plus eventually whittled down to around a dozen or so riders by the time we rolled to the finish in New Albany. Among the strongest riders in our group were 3 impressive young ladies who really helped push the pace throughout the night.

Tonight is the eve of the 50th anniversary TOSRV. This afternoon I went downtown to pick-up my packet and ran into lots of my cycling friends and the weather forecast for the weekend was among every one's primary topic of conversation. Right now the forecast looks pretty positive with a chance of rain late in the day on Saturday and cloudy skies on Sunday. Hopefully the forecast holds true and a fun time should be had by all.

Tuesday night in Delaware - FINALLY!!!

2011-04-28T15:30:00.000-04:00

Well, I finally made it to the Tuesday Delaware ride -actually almost didn't make it. Around 4:15 I called Jax, who lives in the Delaware area, to see if he was riding since the forecast was looking bleak. "Storms coming!" he replied, "planning to ride inside on the trainer". Looking at the dark skies and strong winds outside my office I was seriously thinking of bagging the ride myself. However, the weather forecast for the next several days looked terrible so I decided to take a chance and drive to D-town and see what would shake out.

On the outskirts of Delaware light drops of rain fell on my windshield and I again considered passing on the ride but pressed on to the parking lot behind Beehive Books. I pulled into the parking lot and no one was there, so for a 3rd time I seriously considered skipping out on the ride. I made a pass through the parking lot and planned to leave if I saw no riders when suddenly who should appear on his bike but Gus. Right after that I saw Dave Chambers drive in and decided we would have a ride after all. With 15 minutes left until ride time I changed into my gear in the car (always to be done with caution in a public parking lot) and quickly readied my bike.

Rolling up to Beehive to quickly fill my water bottles I saw 5 other riders including Andys, Mark Ames and Ben. Butch also walked to the start from Breakaway to give us some words of encouragement before we started. Four of the other AWOP Riders were sporting their new kits which looked mighty nice. I left my new kit at home because I didn't want the expected rainy weather to trash it on the first ride. As it turned out the weather and the roads stayed dry.

After a few greetings in the parking lot we rolled out. Heading north toward Prospect we were cruising along at 29-31 mph because of the strong tailwinds so I knew the ride south would be brutal. When the group turned to the west we had our first taste of headwind and our group of 6 was whittled down to 3 including Andys, Dave and me. I could tell I was the weak link in this smaller group but worked as hard as I could to do my share of pulling as the route headed south into the strongest portion of head wind.

The 3 of us rode well together and I was close to being red lined most of the time we were headed south. I felt pretty good sheltered behind Andys or Dave but the head wind was a crusher as I came through for my pull. Ride time was approximately 2 hours and the average was around 20.5. This was a good gauge to tell me how more fitness I need to find before things get really crazy when we have larger groups in the upcoming weeks. I can't wait!

Soggy Saturday

2011-04-25T16:46:00.000-04:00

The original plan for this past Saturday was to do Tom's Trillium Ride in Athens but all the recent rain caused several roads in the Nelsonville / Athens area to be closed due to high water. Fortunately my friend Rick came to the rescue and planned a nice ride from Sunbury out to Utica and back. Plenty of climbing was promised so that our group would not feel too bad about missing all the hills and scenery of Southeastern Ohio. Word is that the Trillium ride is re-scheduled for next weekend.

We had a nice group of 12 riders for the 10:00 start time and we rolled out under cloudy skies with optimisism that we would stay dry for our ride. From Sunbury we headed out to Johnstown and then on to Utica where we climbed Reynolds Hill before making a quick snack stop in town. Rick put together a nice loop with more hills that brought us back into Utica again for lunch at Subway before we started the final run out to Weaver Road and back toward Johnstown.

Rick, our ride leader, powering up Reynolds Hill

The group strung out as we fought some head winds approaching Johnstown. Rolling into the outskirts of town the skies became darker and thunder could be heard in the distance. Light rain began to fall and we stopped under a school entry and contemplated our next move. After a short break we pressed on for the last 20 miles or so as we closed in on Sunbury. Less than 10 minutes from Johnstown the skies opened up and we were all quickly soaked to the bone. The rain continued to fall until we completed the ride with just over 91 miles.

Sweetie looking strong!

Despite the soaking we had fun. Hoping to ride in Athens this Saturday and the current weather forecast predicts warm temps and clear skies.

Hello Reality!

2011-04-22T09:30:00.000-04:00

With the hip continuing to feel better each week I decided to head out to New Albany last night for the weekly COP ride. Thought I should try and make up for lost time and get some speed in my legs. By the time the ride began there was a pretty large crowd in attendance and I was trying to decide between the "A" & "B" groups. When I first arrived Todd was there and he was planning to go with the A's and asked me if I wanted to head out with him for a short warm up ride. Warm up ride? I typically don't do a warm up before a weeknight group ride but I'm glad I did tonight. This should have been my first hint of what was to come.

After sizing up the impressive looking group I reluctantly hopped in with the A's and we headed out into a fairly stiff cross wind. I was toward the back of the pack and almost off the side of the road as I searched for some protection from the wind. Riders were dropped along way and I felt better than expected, hanging pretty well until we reached the hills outside of Granville. I crested the first big climb with the lead group but my tank ran out of gas as the group began to accelerate. A few stragglers who had fallen off during the climb worked to jump back on but my body had enough. The lead group backed off a bit after that first hill so I should have dug deep to get back on and try to catch a quick recovery. As it turned out I was stuck in no man's land maintaining my distance from the group but unable to close the gap. After a few miles riding alone I regrouped with Todd who had gotten caught up in some car traffic when we made the earlier turn toward Granville (the A's wait for no-one) and the two of us pressed on at a recovery pace.

Less than 10 miles from the finish the lead group of B riders (I think Mark Wilson has referred to them as the "B+ group") came up to us and one guy yelled for us to jump on. With our legs rested we hopped onto the group and pressed on toward New Albany. The pace was brisk and smooth and our group worked well together for the rest of the ride.

Although my legs had a reality check and I recognize how much fitness I lost with my hip ordeal, I felt good overall and had a great time riding with some really strong cyclists. In retrospect I may have been better served to ride with the B's but I think the extra push to ride hard was good for me. I'm hooked on the New Albany ride and plan to be there and each week my work schedule permits.

Windy Sunday

2011-04-18T16:23:00.000-04:00

The hip is starting to feel better but the weather last weekend and early this past week did not cooperate in giving me more time to get out and ride. Wednesday and Thursday were pretty fair days and I was able to join in on a few group rides.

Decided I would ride MOC on Sunday and almost bagged the ride when I woke up that morning to strong winds and gray, cloudy skies. Realizing I am severely behind in miles I decided to tough it up and ride the 67 mile route. After reaching Cardington the route headed south back toward Delaware for the last 25 miles +/-. Most of the return route was into strong, gusty headwinds that made it tough to control the bike and hold our line. A tough day in the saddle but was really glad I got out on the bike.

This week's weather looks iffy but I hope to make a few week night rides and possibly a century ride in Athens on Saturday. Also looking forward to a nice 3-day weekend for the Easter Holiday.

Wednesday night with the WBC

2011-04-07T08:05:00.000-04:00

Haven't posted lately for a variety of reasons including craziness at work and generally crappy overall weather conditions and an injury that have prevented me from getting outside on the bike. Fortunately the weather broke last night and I joined in my first Wednesday night WBC Hoover ride of the season. I rode with 3 other folks (Indiana Joe, Mike P & Sweetie) and we had a really great ride. Nice and tight formation with a revolving pace line as we worked against the blustery winds that seemed to be in our faces in almost every direction we rode except when we headed east at the start.

I stayed off the bike the last few weeks due to a nagging hip pain that troubled me after my last few rides. Last night was a fairly easy pace and I did not experience pain after we were through. I'm going to continue keeping an easy pace for the next few weeks and if the pain continues to stay away I'll begin cranking it up. I once received a fortune cookie after eating Chinese and it said "Caution now is better than tears later". I guess that sums up my cycling season right now.

The weekend promises warm temps so I looking forward to getting out and enjoying Spring now that it finally seems to have arrived.

Central Ohio Bike Racing is Alive and, well...Alive

2011-03-12T08:52:00.005-05:00

Last night I read in some posts on FB that this week's Mid Ohio race had been postponed due to snow on the course. The start of this year's racing season reminds me of 2008 when several races were postponed or cancelled due to snow. After such a crappy Winter it looks like Mother Nature just isn't quite ready for Spring.

Speaking of racing, I was encouraged to see that Tym Tyler's events (now presented under "Dark Star Events") appear to be permitted by USA Cycling. With the legitimacy of USAC and the eligibility of upgrade points associated with his events I am hopeful that Tym will see improved numbers at his races. Tym's courses are among the best in Ohio and all area racers should benefit from the availability of venues that don't require spending $3.50 a gallon for gas to drive 2-3 hours for a bike race.

It appears, however, that some things haven't changed. A quick visit to the Ohio Cycling Association (OCA) website shows an obvious absence of Tym's races in their schedule. I know there is some bad blood between the OCA and Tym Tyler who has been better known for his "Team Columbus" racing organization for many years. While allegations of Tym's past indiscretions with USAC are common knowledge, he seems to have made amends and his events are now permitted. So it seems the OCA should have an obligation to list Tym's races with the other area USAC-permitted events for the convenient reference of racers in Central Ohio. Better promotion of all area races means bigger fields, more competition and an enhanced racing experience for everyone.

Come on Spring - We're ready already!

2011-03-06T18:08:00.000-05:00

Mother Nature played yet another cruel trick this past week and into the weekend. After heavy rains fell all week long which caused flooding in many areas, the temperatures dropped and snow was on the ground when I woke up this morning. Since outdoor riding was not part of the plan for me this weekend I joined the group at the Levydrome yesterday and today for some quality trainer time.

Yesterday we rode 1.5 hours to the "Local Heroes" Sufferfest DVD and today we did a 2 hour spin to The Expendables. Work will only allow limited trainer time this coming week but the long range forecast for next weekend shows the possibility of warmer temps and drier weather.

Next Sunday the time changes and hopefully at that time I'll be making plans to put the trainer into storage and begin the long awaited week night rides.

Happy 90th Birthday Papa!!!

2011-02-26T12:13:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my dad's 90th birthday which is certainly an incredible milestone. I stopped by last night to see my folks as I do each Friday evening and wished my dad all the best on his special day.

I've posted about my dad before. He suffered a pretty serious stroke about 8 years ago and he has struggled with day to day activities ever since. But health wise he is doing well. His dad (my grandpa) lived to be 94 so I pray that I have inherited some of those long life genes.

I really proud of my dad (and also my mom who has been an incredible care giver to my dad for so many years). Tomorrow evening our family will gether to celebrate dad's big milestone. I'm looking forward to being a part of it.

History Repeats (Again!)

2011-02-17T13:39:00.004-05:00

Cycling is a funny business. Not unlike many other pursuits, the bicycle world is always looking for the latest gizmos to help separate cyclists from their money. While the basic design of the modern road bike hasn't changed in well over 100 years, component innovations occur at an unbelievable pace.

O.Symetric - one of the more radical chain ring designs out there.

One of the cycling innovations I came across recently are the ovalized chain rings that have been out for awhile from Rotor-Q and O.Symetric. These companies claim that their new products reduce the pedaling "dead zone" while increasing power output and reduce knee pain.

When I saw these new products I was immediately reminded of the old Biopace chain ring system that was marketed by Shimano in the 1980's. At the time I seem to recall that the Biopace system didn't really stand the test of time and was eventually dismissed as more of a fad than a legitimate innovation.

Biopace - the one that started eliptical chain rings - far less radical than the O.Symetric Design

While the Biopace rings faded into the sunset, the companies selling these new wattage-boosting chain rings provide lots of data to support their claims for improved rider performance. Team Sky ran the O.Symetric chain rings last season and Bradley Wiggins seems to have been pleased with his results after using them.

The concept for these rings is pretty intriguing to me. If I happen to come across a bike with these rings that has some Keo pedals I might see if I can talk my way into a test ride.

Egypt - A New Beginning

2011-02-12T12:03:00.003-05:00

Several weeks ago I posted that we had an opportunity to visit Egypt this past October. We spent two weeks in Egypt and our trip included the following highlights:

Cairo & The Pyramids
The Sphinx & the Egyptian Museum
Karnak Temple
Valley of the the Kings
A week-long cruise on the Nile River
Komombo Temple
Aswan
The City of Hurghada and snorkeling in the Red Sea
St. Catherines Monastery (location of the Burning Bush)
Hiking up Mt. Sinai for see the sunrise
The City of Alexandria & the Mediterranean Sea.

For both of us this was without a doubt the trip of a lifetime and the opportunity to experience the culture of this vibrant, ancient middle-eastern country was memorable and life changing. What we couldn't have possibly imagined at the time of our trip was that in a matter of a few short months Egypt would experience an historic uprising and peaceful revolution which hopefully promises a better quality of life for its people.

Egypt was peaceful and welcoming to us during our visit but there were signs that many people were not happy with their lot in life and that the desire for change was very strong. Many Egyptians we talked to acknowledged corruption in the government and the lack of opportunities for the shrinking middle class and the growing lower class. High unemployment and a low standard of living were evident nearly everywhere we visited in this country which contrasted sharply with its rich history and substantial natural resources.

These are uncertain, yet exciting times for Egypt and my thoughts and support are with the Egyptian people as they work toward creating a fair government which will offer the opportunity for a much better standard of living.

The LevyDrome

2011-02-11T13:50:00.003-05:00

The temps were unbelievably cold yesterday and when I pulled into work the thermometer in my car read -8 degrees! Wow! Even if my thermometer was off a few degrees there is no denying the weather outside was beyond frigid.

Fortunately my evening plans included a group spin at the LevyDrome. Our hosts, Dave & Cathy, have graciously welcomed a group of us to their home a few times each week during this long, cold winter to ride our trainers while watching cycling videos. The group setting is s great motivator and the social contact with our cycling friends is a major bonus while logging some saddle time in preparation of Spring.

Last night we had a full house of 8 riders and we watched a great Sufferfest video that Ted brought along to share with the group. Under the watchful eyes of Maya, a black lab who keeps watch on us all to make sure no one is slacking, we had a nice, hard workout that included climbing some great mountain passes with a the pro peloton.

This weekend promises warmer weather with Sunday's temps expected to reach the mid 40's. This will feel like a heat wave compared to what we experienced earlier in the week. I'm thinking an outdoor ride will be a required activity.

The Ice Storm Cometh

2011-02-02T11:34:00.000-05:00

For most of this week the weather folks had been forecasting freezing rain and potential power outages. It turns out that they knew what they were talking about. The rain and sleet began falling early yesterday afternoon and by around 6:00 or so there was a shiny layer of ice covering everything.

As darkness fell in my neighborhood I began hearing distant tree limbs snap under the weight of freezing ice and there were a couple of loud pops followed by bursts of green light as transformers failed, adding to the power outages in Central Ohio that currently effect over 50,000 homes.

Late last night I received a phone call and was told my office was under a Level 3 weather emergency so I did not have to make the precarious drive to work. Under normal conditions I drive an hour to my office and I can only imagine how long my commute would have been today. I'm sure it will still be a white knuckle drive tomorrow morning.

I heard someone on the local news say Ohio's groundhog did not see his shadow this morning so we will have an early Spring. I sure hope so.

Wilderness Lodge Wattsburg, PA

2011-01-26T21:01:00.003-05:00

This past weekend Amy and I headed east to Wattsburg, PA for a weekend of cross country skiing with Terry Smith, Glenn Beachy and a nice sized group of other COP'ers at Wilderness Lodge This year I believe we had about 34 folks in our group which made for a fun weekend.

Some of the group out on the trails

We were on the road early Friday morning and had smooth travels until we crossed into Pennsylvania and neared Erie. As the snow began falling and the road grime started to cover the windshield we realized the windshield washer on the drivers side was not working. A few extra stops along the way to clean off the windshield resulted in only a short delay and we arrived at Wilderness Lodge early Friday afternoon in plenty of time to get out on the trails for a few hours.

I've made the trek to Wilderness Lodge many times over the past 10 years or so and this year's snow conditions were among the very best I have ever seen. All the trails were groomed and there was tons of fresh, white powder. This year my friend Mike Rebuck and Cheryl, his fiancee also joined us on the trip. Mike is an old KA team mate of mine who now lives in Harrisburg. We had a great time and it was really great to catch up.

Mary Maloney & Mike Rebuck showing how it's done

On Saturday we spent most of the day out on the trails, including an early morning ski through the woods in time to watch the sun rise - very nice! After we finished up skiing on Saturday we joined all the COP'ers for a big spaghetti dinner. After dinner the group played cards, sat by the fire, listened to the music provided by two musicians in our group, or listened to Nancy (the original inn proprietor) share her stories and the history of the lodge in her Welsh accent.

Terry Smith, Glenn Beachy and Nancy pose by the fire

We enjoyed great music on Saturday evening

On Sunday morning Amy and I took snow shoes and hiked through some wooded trails that were freshly covered with the snow fall from the night before. We then had breakfast (pancakes and french toast with real maple syrup) before packing up and hitting the road that afternoon. On the way home we stopped and I was able to unclog the windshield washer using a sewing needle Amy had in her glove box. This made for a much easier drive home.

Snowshoeing on fresh powder

Good times and good friends made for an excellent weekend. I can't wait to go back next year!

Cyclocross Dudes

2011-01-19T16:41:00.003-05:00

These xtranormal videos always make me smile:

Nice Weekend!

2011-01-18T16:08:00.024-05:00

This past weekend was a bit too cold for me to get out and ride. However, I’m sure a few a few of my friends braved the elements on Sunday since the roads were dry and sun was shining. On Saturday I put in a few trainer hours and then took Sweetie out that evening to see a movie and then have dinner at J.Gilberts. Both the movie and dinner were great and the company, as usual, was terrific (at least for me).

On Sunday we decided to hike around Highbanks for a few hours so we could get outside and enjoy the sunny day. While hiking along the trails we saw a few folks cross country skiing and we were a bit envious since we left our skis at home.

A nice view along the river during our Highbanks hike

Speaking of cross country skiing, some friends of ours went out to Colorado over the holidays to enjoy the trails and made it into the Dispatch:

It’s nice to have famous friends!

I noted in an earlier post that I have taken the 30 day Face Book-free challenge (a challenge of my own making). About halfway there and so far so good! No shakes or physical withdrawals of any sort. There have been a few Face Book stories in the news this past week that caught my eye regarding violations of people’s privacy. One odd story is about someone who hacked e-mail accounts to gather compromising photos that were then posted as the victim's person’s profile picture.

Tour Down Under

2011-01-14T16:39:00.001-05:00

Normally by this time in January I’ve had my fill of winter (even though much more of it is usually headed our way). I begin to wonder if spring and the start of the outdoor cycling season will ever arrive. Last night at the Levydrome Tom gave my spirits a lift when he mentioned to our group that the Tour Down Under begins this weekend with coverage starting Sunday afternoon on Versus at 5:00 pm. When bike racing begins on Versus I start to feel like spring can’t be too far away. The actual stage race begins next week but there is a race event on Sunday that will raise money for victims of the recent flooding in Queensland.

This year’s Tour Down Under is expected to be the last Protour event for Lance Armstrong. Although I discarded my membership card to the Lance Armstrong fan club a number of years ago, I must admit it will interesting to see him ride in the final major road race of his career.

On the local scene there are rumors of groups planning to get out this weekend for a bit of cross country skiing, including some folks Mark Wilson reported may be heading out to Slate Run. Sweetie and I are making the annual pilgrimage to Wilderness Lodge with COP in the near future for what always proves to be a fun weekend of camaraderie and cross country skiing so it would be nice to get out on the trails ourselves this weekend.

The Revenge of White Death

2011-01-12T18:45:00.002-05:00

As retribution for making fun of yesterday's panic over the snow forecast, Mother Nature gave me a payback when I traveled to Cincinnati and Southern Indiana for work this morning. From the time I left the house until I exited onto I-74 near the Ohio border the roads seemed pretty decent as long as you drove with a bit of caution. But after crossing into Indiana I-74 came to a stop in both directions due to truck accidents.

A Fed-Ex truck jackknifed on a bridge in the opposite direction I was traveling and I can only imagine how long people in those lanes ended up waiting before the accident was cleared. In the direction I was traveling there was also a truck accident that brought us to a standstill less than 5 miles from the exit for my appointment. The delay lasted about 30 minutes. The worst part for me was that I noticed after we stopped that my gas gauge was near empty (not unusual for me) and the fuel light came on. Each time we stopped I would turn off the engine and hope I had enough fumes to make it to the next exit where gas was available.

Someone even put up a sign so we would know why we were sitting still on the freeway for 30 minutes

My last Indiana appointment today was in Greensburg and on my way back towards Ohio around lunch time it was smooth sailing. Was happy to arrive back home safe and sound.

I was able to make it to the Levydrome last night so no workout is planned for this evening. Looking forward to relaxing after a long day in the car.

White Death

2011-01-11T05:52:00.001-05:00

As I write this early morning post our first "white death" of 2011 seems imminent, although the expected total accumulation looks to be a bit less than previously predicted. 2-4 inches of snow are in the forecast right now which is lower than the 4-6 inches predicted on the news last night. On the news this morning they said the top three items people buy at the grocery store before a snowstorm are milk, bread and ketchup. Ketchup? Really?

Was originally planning to attend the weekly spin session tonight at the Levydrome, but not sure that the timing will work out if the snow falls. Normally I barely make the 6:00 start time when coming from work and I would expect the roads to be chaos if we receive any more than a dusting of snow. Might be a another evening on my home trainer.

2011-01-08T12:05:00.001-05:00

I'm trying to get motivated a for a trainer session as I look outside to see the fresh snowfall we received last night. Probably less than an inch fell overnight but it was enough to give the outdoors a nice, wintery appearance.

I think my training partner today will be Gilbert Duclos Lasselle as he makes a run on DVD at the 1992 Paris Roubaix. Hopefully I can hold his wheel to the end of the race.

One quick item to share before I ready myself for the trainer:

Mark Wilson's cycling blog will continue to amuse, inform and entertain for 2011! I'm new to Mark's blog and for my money it is the best one going in Central Ohio. Many area cyclists look forward to his entertaining photos and group ride observations throughout the year. Earlier this week Mark issued a challenge to his readers to check in and comment or he would shut things down. Mark has a flair for writing interesting, witty and entertaining entries that my blog lacks so I was pleased to read that he received enough replies to continue posting.

It was 20 years ago today...

2011-01-07T20:23:00.000-05:00

Well, maybe not to the day, but earlier in the week I was digging through my attic and found my old collection of cycling magazines, including an old Winning magazine from January of '91. I subscribed to Winning magazine for a number of years and it is great to look back at the time capsule of cycling memories they contain. A few years ago I posted an article about a new yound rider from Austin Texas who had a great deal of promise. I would say he reached his potential and then some.

Back in '91 Greg Lemond was just coming off two dominant years in the TdF and riders like Gianni Bugno and Miguel Indurain were coming to prominence.

Looking back to that era I don't see much in the way of cycling gear or equipment that really gets me too excited. It is hard to imagine that the Sidi mountain bike shoes shown below would have ever been a "must have" item.

Winning Magazine expressed optimism for the year ahead in 1991 with news that Motorola would sponser the former 7-11 team and the Dupont Company would step up to take over the former Tour de Trump. But there was also an editorial about the potential dangers of a new drug from Amgen called EPO which was beginning to be used by some endurance athletes, including cyclists.

I'll try to share more images from my cycling magazine timecapsules as time permits.

To Facebook or not to Facebook?

2011-01-06T11:46:00.007-05:00

I shared in an earlier post that the social media phenomenon contributed to my neglect of Sprocket during the past year. After several of my friends asked “Are you on Facebook?” I succumbed to curiosity and created an FB account.

Initially FB was pretty cool. On a positive note I reconnected with several old friends and acquaintances including a few folks I have not been in touch with since high school. FB has also given me the opportunity to share photos and stories with friends I see on regular basis. So then, what’s the problem?

The older I get the more uneasy I become with big organizations that seem to become more intrusive in our lives. Each week I read about ways in which FB can allegedly gather and use personal information without the approval of its members. That bothers me a little bit. One step I took to control this potential problem is to remove as much personal information from my FB profile as possible.

I had someone “de-friend” me because I was an FB friend with someone that person didn’t like (Huh?). Someone also lifted some pics of me off my page and use them in a way that I wasn’t very pleased about. All in all these are not a big deal but they are distractions I think I can live without.

So, I have decided to keep my FB account but commit to 30 days of Face book-free living and I’ll see if I miss out on anything important between now and early February. Something tells me I’ll make it through the next 30 days just fine. In the meantime I'll try harder to keep the old blog current.

Old School Columbus Racing Pics

2011-01-03T15:34:00.008-05:00

1972 Junior State Track Championship at the long gone Murphy Raceway in Powell.(Photo from Doug Siple's Photostream)

When I was in college in the mid 80's I briefly dabbled in racing with very unremarkable results. At that time I joined Franklin Bicycle Club (FBCI) and tried my hand at a few weekly "C" races on the old Alum Creek course near Worthington. I lived just north of Graceland Shopping Center and would pedal my Raleigh touring bike to the Dairy Queen on High Street to meet up with other racers and then ride up to the course. After typically getting dropped during my race I would hang out at the finish line to watch the "real" racers finish before riding back home.

During one race the solid rear axle on my Raleigh split in half and I became aware of the failure when I began hearing ball bearings fall onto the pavement. Fearing I was stranded I asked Mike Lane, who was a mechanic with his brother Dennis at Northland Schwinn in Clintonville, what I should do and he said I could ride the bike home as long as I didn't put too much pressure on the pedals. Somehow I made it home and Mike eventually replaced the failed axle with a chrome moly axle and quick release skewer.

I've always had really fond memories of those days and remember watching guys like Randy Dull, Tym Tyler, Glenn Groves and Dean Carson dominate the "A" races. A number of FBCI alum are still actively riding or racing and it is fun to run into them from time to time. So I was really excited to stumble across Doug Siple's Photostream album a few weeks ago and to see all the terrific old cycling pictures he has posted including a fantastic folder with FBCI images. Each time I check in to see Doug's pictures there are a few more added so I think I'll be a regular visitor from now on.

These pictures are a real treasure trove. If you remember "Team Punk", "Ten Speeds Bicycle Store" or have any interest or memories of Columbus cycling from days gone by you need to check out these great images!

Welcome New Year!!!

2011-01-01T12:40:00.003-05:00

I guess the first day of 2011 is as good a time as any to revive the 'ole blog. This past year I became distracted with some of the social media sites out there and regular posts (well, nearly any posts at all)to Sprocket Rocket were neglected. Hopefully I can stay on track this year share comments about activities during what I feel will be a pretty fun year.

2010 was pretty exciting with the highlight being a trip Sweetie and I took to Egypt. We spent two weeks in a fascinating part of the world and I'll try to share pictures and details in the near future.

I was fortunate to meet great new cycling friends this past year while also enjoying some terrific riding adventures with good friends I have been fortunate to know for several years. Spring is only a few months away and I look forward to riding as much as time allows in the year to come.

That's all for now. Happy New Year to everyone!

More to come (I promise!!!).

2010-04-01T06:43:00.005-04:00

Last night I joined some friends for a ride at Glacier Ridge Park. We had a nice sized group and rode a little over 40 miles. The pace was brisk and steady which is just what my legs need to try and re-gain lost fitness.

The weather was incredible for late March with temps in the upper 60's at the start of the ride. I wore arm and leg warmers which felt a bit warm at the start but I was glad to have them on as the sun set near the end of our ride.

The weather forecast for the rest of the week is sunny and warm. Hopefully I can fit a few rides in between Easter family get togethers.

Spring Has Sprung

2010-03-17T12:36:00.002-04:00

Over the past weekend I took my ice scraper out of the car to make room for my bike and gear. How is that for optimism? Last night I also loaded my bike in the car and made it out to our first Delaware Tuesday night ride of the year.

As always, this first ride of the year is a sure indicator of who has been training (the Godfatha')and who has been sitting on the couch over the winter watching TV (me). We had a really nice turnout of around 12-15 riders. The pace was pretty casual for the first half hour or so until about 5 guys kicked it up to form a gap on the rest of the group. I was able to hang with the leaders but my head was hanging in shame as I was a total wheel sucker and was unable to pull at all. As the season progresses and more big guns make it out to our rides I'll be put into some serious hurt until I can find my lost cycling legs.

All in all a good time was had by most in attendance. For Christmas my Sweetie gave me this gadget for my bike that shows my speed, distance and ride time. Lots of the other riders have these gadgets on their bikes so I felt like I fit in with the group. According to my gadget we rode 1 1/2 hours and averaged 19 miles per hour.

Good Riddens February!

2010-02-26T21:04:00.005-05:00

I was up in Mansfield for work today and the roads were pretty lousy. The wind and drifting snow created most of the problems. I made it home from work and got on the trainer for a bit over and hour - watched the '09 Tour of Flanders and thought about Spring and riding on the roads.

I am so glad this weekend marks the end of February. Not sure how much snow has fallen this month, but we will probably hit around 29" and this will likely be a new record.

I see Tym cancelled this weekend's race in Croton. Reminds me of the snowy start we had to the race season 2008.

Let's hope March brings warmer temps and dry roads!

Rest in Peace Doug

2010-02-24T14:15:00.007-05:00

I’ve been neglecting my blog and I’m terribly late in posting this, but I was saddened recently to learn of the death of Doug Fieger. Doug was the lead singer for The Knack, one of my favorite bands in high school. I think it was the subjects of the songs from this group that appealed so much to my teenage Catholic High School boy’s mentality.

Most everyone of my generation is familiar with the big hits on this album: My Sharona and Good Girls Don’t. I loved every song on this album but my favorites were Oh Tara, She’s So Selfish and Frustrated which had an awesome drum intro that I loved to play over and over again. I played this song so much that I can still remember where there is a scratch in the LP record. Once in college I used the beginning of Frustrated as the intro for a project in one of my radio broadcasting classes. I think I received an “A” on that one.

The Knack released a few follow-up albums but they never did much for me. However, Get The Knack will always stand out for me as one of my favorite LP’s. Rest in Peace Doug.

Wilderness Lodge

2010-01-28T21:51:00.007-05:00

This past weekend Sweetie and I traveled east to Wattburg, PA for a weekend of cross country skiing at Wilderness Lodge. The lodge is a great place that I have visited a number of times over the years along with a group of friends from COP including Terry Smith & Glenn Beachy who organize this trip each year.

The two of us arrived after nightfall and we organized a group from COP for a night hike along roads near the lodge. It was a cloudless evening and we enjoyed looking at the stars during our walk before turning in for the evening.

With warm temps the week before we had less than ideal ski conditions. The snow was icy and this made skiing a bit of a challenge at times. However, we still enjoyed skiing several miles of groomed trails.

After dinner on Saturday evening, Terry shared pictures from an incredible trip he and his wife Vikki took to Alaska. It was just what we needed to get us thinking about our next big adventure.

The staff at Wilderness Lodge take great care of us each year and I can't wait to return next Winter.

Reality check!

2010-01-16T13:24:00.003-05:00

Made it out on the road today with Luca, the Godfatha', Scott, Mike, Chet and Josh. Rode from Powell for 2 hours. Nice ride. A bit cool when we started but the temps were in the upper 30's most of the ride. Thank goodness Josh was on a fixie - if he had more gears the suffering would have been worse for me.

We had fog most of the ride so the sun never came out. Was going to snap a few pics, but it was too cold for me take off my gloves during the ride.

I sat in most of the ride and I'm more motivated to hit the trainer a few more times each week. March is just around the corner...

2010-01-09T12:17:00.002-05:00

Spent an hour and 20 on the trainer today while snow lightly fell outside. Felt pretty good but LOTS AND LOTS of work needed to get ready for Spring! I think many more weeks of work are needed to erase my holiday eating sins.

Put some yellow Fizik bar tape on the Torelli last night - looks pretty sweet!

Long term forecast for next week predicts temps in the mid-30's. Will feel like heat wave compared to this week. If the roads are dry a ride outside may be in order.

2010-01-04T21:53:00.003-05:00

Spent an hour on the trainer this past weekend. EZ pace and maintained an HR around 130 or so. Popped a DVD in the player and watched Servais Knaven win the '02 Paris Roubaix. Felt good to spin the legs a bit after so long a time away from the bike.

Yesterday Sweetie and I met some WBC friends at Highbanks and hiked the trails for about 5 miles. The temps were cold (less than 10 degrees) but the sun was out and our walk through the woods was really nice. A light dusting of snow the night before made for some nice scenery. After our hike we enjoyed coffee and soup at Panera's. Doesn't get much better than that.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-30T11:36:00.002-05:00

The Christmas season has been busy with gatherings of family and friends so I haven’t checked in for awhile. Now as the Holiday season draws to a close I’m ready to focus on finding my bike legs for 2010. With some extra time off over the next several days I’ll have the opportunity to become reacquainted with my trainer.

With Daylight Savings Time and the start of our weeknight hammer sessions just a little over 10 weeks away I guess there is no better time than the present to focus on finding some of that lost fitness.

A Beautiful Day to Ride

2009-11-30T14:46:00.003-05:00

Sunday proved to be a terrific day to get out and ride. Temps in the mid to upper 50’s with a strong wind coming out of Northwest. I met up with the boyz in Delaware at the Beehive for a 2 hour spin and was surprised we only had about 6 riders in our group, especially after all the eating that took place during Thanksgiving.

Chairman Fred stopped by on his bike to say “Hi” but was headed on to attend a family birthday party. Marco was our ride leader and led us north into the headwinds. On a sad note, as we headed north we rode along Klondike Road and saw a small group of people gathered at the spot where two Dublin high school students were killed in a fatal car crash the previous evening. My thoughts are with the families and friends of the young people involved in this tragic accident.

After working hard to fight the wind we turned east and then south to enjoy the strong tailwind that carried us back to Delaware where Marco and I enjoyed a hot cup of Java and some homemade pie at the Beehive. This time of year I always think we are just about out of nice days to ride so I’m glad I made it out on Sunday.

Heading out to San Francisco - Part 2

2009-11-04T06:42:00.011-05:00

Part II – Point Reyes, San Francisco & Alcatraz

After a restful sleep at our B &B in Sonoma we were treated to another great breakfast before checking out of our room and heading off to visit a few more wineries. We stopped at Imagery and BR Cohn wineries for tastings. I enjoyed BR Cohn the best out of these two. BR Cohn is the winery owner and manager of the Doobie Brothers. In addition to having a great selection of wine, the tasting room had several band pictures and gold records on display. After visiting these wineries we traveled west through Sobastopol toward Bodega where we picked up Hwy 1 for a really great drive south along the coast. We stopped at a few neat shops on the way south back toward San Francisco. Along the way we stopped at the Point Reyes lighthouse . The light house was a pretty long drive off the main road and I was a bit worried as we drove and drove knowing that our rental car was due at the airport that evening. We arrived at the lighthouse with just enough time to walk around and take a few pictures. The wind at the light house was strong and the views were spectacular. I think we both felt Point Reyes light house was well worth the drive.

After visiting the light house we drove back toward Hwy 1 and traveled south toward Hwy 101. We really enjoyed the drive along the twisty road that looked out over the sea. We stopped a few times to take pictures and check out the view. We missed sunset by about a half hour which was too bad. However, we weren’t sure how long it would take to arrive at the airport so we tried to keep moving as best we could. When we arrived back at Hwy 101 we gassed up and picked up some burgers and In N Out , a well known California burger chain. We then headed to the airport and dropped off our rental car with about 30 minutes to spare. We caught the Bart metro train which took us into the city and then took a cab to the Mayflower hotel. We were going to take a bus from the train to the hotel but the clerk at the hotel suggested a cab since the bus would have gone through the Tenderloin which is a rather dicey area. The Mayflower is an old hotel that was modest, but clean and it suited our needs. Our room was only $98.00 which is a steal in downtown San Francisco.

The next morning we enjoyed a really nice breakfast and then checked out of our room. The hotel was kind enough to let us keep our bags in a secure room while we enjoyed the day walking around San Francisco. Our walk included China Town, Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz. At fisherman's Wharf we shared a clam chowder bread bowl and then watched the sea lions before taking our tour of Alcatraz. Our tour was fun but it began to rain while we were in the prison. The rain prevented us from walking around the grounds so we headed back to the ferry for the short trip back to the city. After returning on the Ferry from Alcatraz we walked to Ghirardelli Square and then caught the cable car back to China Town. We visited a few shops and bought a few souvenirs in China Town before walking back to the hotel to pick up our bags and then catch a cab to the train station. We then rode the Bart train back to the airport and grabbed a quick bite to eat before catching our red eye flight back home.

In 4 short days we really fit a lot into our trip. I’m looking forward to our next adventure – wherever that may take us.

Heading out to San Francisco - Part 1

2009-11-03T20:20:00.015-05:00

Part I - Muir Woods, Sausalito & Sonoma

A few weeks ago Sweetie and I took a long 4-day weekend trip to San Francisco. The trip came about as a result of some flight vouchers we received after our epic journey south this past summer. We left on a Thursday after work and arrived in San Francisco late that evening. After catching some sleep at our hotel we were up early Friday morning to pickup our rental car at the airport and then we headed into the city to see a few sights on our way to John Muir Woods. We drove through Golden Gate Park and the Presidio en route to Lincoln Park where we stopped to take a few photos of the Golden Gate Bridge. We then drove on Hwy 101 up to Mill Valley where we exited the freeway and traveled along some really pretty roads to Muir Woods. Muir Woods was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. Walking through the park into the forest full of giant redwood trees was pretty spectacular. The forest had a prehistoric feel to me and I felt like we had gone back in time to prehistory.

After our trip to Muir Woods we drove back to Mill Valley and stopped at Studio Velo before getting back on Hwy 101. In addition to having some really cool frames and gear, Studio Velo had a vending machine out front with inner tubes, gels and other cycling necessities that were available to cyclists even when the store was closed – pretty cool!

It was then back on the highway to Sausalito where we took in the beautiful sites and checked out a few shops before having a really nice dinner at Poggio. Sitting by the window enjoying the view of the harbor with a nice glass of wine, it was cool to watch the steady flow of cyclists riding past us on the street. We quickly realized how cycling friendly the area is in and around San Francisco. After dinner we stopped at Bicycle Odyssey another great cycling shop. This may be one of the coolest and most complete bike stores I have ever visited. Great gear and a HUGE selection of top end road frames. Sweetie picked up a neat bike bell that lit up in multiple colors when you rang it – the perfect accessory for an upcoming night ride.

By now it was getting dark as we hopped back on Hwy 101 to travel north to Santa Rosa where we would spend the next few nights at Melitta Station, a small bed and breakfast that would be our home base while we checked out Sonoma’s wine country. After arriving we met the owners, a really charming couple from Great Britain, and then settled into our room to rest up for the next day’s bike ride into wine country. The next morning we enjoyed a nice breakfast and met Melitta Station’s other guests before driving into Sonoma to pick up bicycles for our ride. We rented bikes from Sonoma Valley Bike Tours . The bikes were OK and the service was so so and I’m not sure I would recommend this company to someone else. However, we really enjoyed our ride and we stopped along the way at Acacia Winery for a testing. After returning our bikes we drove to Bartholomew Winery for a tasting and we bought a few bottles of wine to bring home. We then walked around Sonoma’s town square before having dinner at Lasalette, a Portuguese restaurant recommended by our hosts at the Bed and Breakfast. We enjoyed our meal and the weather was warm enough to dine outside. After getting back to our Bed and Breakfast that evening we enjoyed a relaxing dip in their hot tub before calling it a night.

Coming up – Hwy 1 & our walking tour of San Francisco

Torelli Selvino Review

2009-10-26T20:09:00.007-04:00

Late last year I managed to acquire a Torelli Selvino road frame. The previous owner is much taller than me and could not ride the size Medium frame. Brand new and never built up, I spent the next several months assembling it into a bike as finances would allow and component deals would present themselves. Late this past summer after checking and re-checking measurements & torque settings, I took the bike for a few short spins around the neighborhood before it made an official debut at one of our Tuesday evening hammer sessions.

While the Torelli Selvino is a compact frame it has different dimensions than my Giant TCR. The biggest differences I noticed are that the bottom bracket is slightly higher and the seat tube angle is a bit different. In order to postion the saddle equal to the TCR relative to the BB, the saddle sits slightly more forward on the seat post. The handlebar stem is a few mm’s longer than on my TCR in order to have the same reach.

I have always been pleased with the performance of my TCR, but the stiffness of the Torelli Selvino translated into noticeably improved acceleration. The Selvino handles very well and is very comfortable to ride, although the stiff frame and oversize carbon tubes make road bumps a bit more noticeable. Weighing in around 1000 gm, the frame is quite light. Weight for the entire bicycle is ~ 16.5 pounds.

The more I ride the Torelli Selvino the more I enjoy it. I would recommend this frame to anyone looking for a high quality, good looking, cost effective road racing frame.

Torelli Selvino component highlights:

Frame --- Torelli Selvino - Medium

Drive Train --- Dura Ace 10 Speed

Wheels --- Easton EA90 SLX

Tires --- Continental Grand Prix 4000

Handlebars --- Torelli Aspect

Saddle --- Selle Italia SLK

Seat post --- Easton EC 90

Pedals --- Look Keo Carbon

Don't be a dope?

2009-10-09T21:59:00.004-04:00

Saw this article on the Velonews site this past week and thought it was interesting. If the article is accurate, a Cat 1 racer from TX received a 2-year suspension after testing positive for a banned substance he received from an OTC supplement. I know more than a few cyclists who take all types of OTC supplements and I'll bet they aren't familiar with all the ingredients.

http://www.velonews.com/article/98978/houston-based-amateur-accepts-doping-suspension">Velonews Article

As long as Gatorade and Powergel is allowed I should be OK.

Hiking to Mt. LeConte

2009-09-29T21:01:00.005-04:00

This past weekend I had the opportunity to hike up to the lodge at Mt. LeConte with my sweetie. Mt. LeConte is located in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee and is the 3rd highest peak of that range behind Clingman’s Dome and another peak whose name escapes me right now.

This opportunity came my way when someone from the original group of 4 had to cancel due to a scheduling conflict. As it turned out two others also cancelled so it was just the two of us on this trip. I was already scheduled to be in the area for work so we met at our motel in Townsend, Tennessee on Friday evening. Our motel was located next to a visitor center which was hosting an annual Bluegrass music festival. Whether or not you enjoy this type of music (I do!) it was really cool to be in the Smokey Mountains and hear these local musicians playing their instruments just outside our room.

Before we called it a night we watched The Weather Channel to see the forecast for Saturday predicting a 100% chance of rain. As it turned out the forecast was right on the money. Fortunately we had packed with this possibility in mind so we were pretty well prepared for showers. There are 5 trails leading to the lodge and they ranged in length from 5 miles to a bit over 8 miles. Since we had two cars we thought it would be nice to hike two different trails. So we parked one car at Newfound Gap which was the trailhead for the 8 mile Boulevard Trail and then drove a few miles to Alum Cave Trail which is about 5 miles long. Since we were pretty sure we would get wet we felt hiking the shorter distance on Saturday would be the way to go. If more rain fell on Sunday we could still come down this same trail.

We hit the trail with grey skies overhead and the first hour or so was pleasant and dry. After awhile a light rain began and it gradually became heavier. For the last hour or so of our hike the rain fell hard and even with Gore-Tex boots and jackets we eventually became pretty wet. Alum Cave Trail was pretty challenging toward the end and the trail effectively became a stream as we neared the top. Some really impressive waterfalls could be seen all along the trail. Despite being wet I really enjoyed the experience of testing myself against the elements as we reached the peak.

Mt. LeConte Lodge was our overnight destination and I really enjoyed its rustic simplicity. The lodge consists of several 4 person cabins and a larger group cabin. The lodge has no electricity so each cabin is heated by a small propane furnace and has a small kerosene lamp for light. Food and supplies are brought in by llamas that travel up the Trillium Trail a few times per week. We packed along some wine, cheese and crackers which we enjoyed after getting into warm dry clothes. Dinner was served at 6:00pm and included roast beef in gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread, spiced apples and peaches. Coffee and hot chocolate was provided as well. What a great meal after a cold wet day on the trails.

Before dinner we heard someone yelling “YAAA – YAAA - Get Away, Get Outta Here!”. We learned at dinner that the folks next to us saw a bear outside their cabin. Overnight that same bear broke into another cabin and tore up a mattress while probably looking for food. Unfortunately this same bear had been in the camp before and will likely be euthanized if seen again near the cabins.

We were up early the next morning for a terrific breakfast including pancakes, scrambled eggs w/ ham and biscuits with honey. What a difference a day makes! The early morning was foggy and as we headed out on the Boulevard Trail the weather became more sunny and beautiful. We even had the opportunity to stop at a few scenic spots to enjoy a snack. Our hike down the trail was beautiful and was a great way to finish out the weekend. The last few miles of our hike went along the AT which brought us to the car where we loaded up. I was dropped off at my car and then we headed off for home.

Both trails we hiked were pretty challenging but doable for anyone in reasonable shape. Rain or shine, Mt. LeConte is a terrific trip which I would highly recommend to anyone if the opportunity comes their way.

Tripping to Peru (Part 3): Machu Pichu

2009-08-20T15:16:00.016-04:00

Tripping to Peru (Part 1)

Tripping to Peru (Part 2)

County Fair Time

2009-08-17T20:31:00.008-04:00

Every year the company I work for supports the Champaign County Fair by bidding on animals that are owned by our employee’s kids who are active in 4H. The Champaign County Fair was this past week so I attended and bid on a rabbit and two meat pens of chickens. My company was the winning bidder for all three sales and the kids seemed to really appreciate our support & participation. The kids are always pleased to learn that we let them keep their animals and I’m always pleased I don’t have to tote any pens of livestock back home with me to the city.

My co worker's daughter with her Grand Champion Rabbit!

This was probably my 5th or 6th year of bidding on the 4H animals and it is always a lot of fun. This year the rabbit we bought was “Grand Champion” so the local news paper took our picture and my company received some nice pub in the local paper. Champaign County has one of the largest 4H programs in the state (4H began in neighboring Clark County in the early 1900’s) and one of the parents I spoke to this year said the Champaign County fair displays more animals and horticulture than the Ohio State Fair.

Speaking of Bicycle Safety...

2009-08-05T13:00:00.003-04:00

Saw this photo on Bike Rumor and thought "Are you kidding me?". Mounting a lap top computer on your bike seems like a bad idea for so many reasons...

2009-07-29T08:42:00.006-04:00

Last night I made it out to our Tuesday evening hammerfest in Delaware. We had a great group last night and a good sized turnout. Most of the major instigators were present and this was one of the fastest paced Tuesday rides I have attended. A few sustained efforts of around 28 mph. About 6 of us were together at the finish and our average speed for the entire ride was 23 mph on the button.

After the ride Chairman Fred mentioned to me that the pace of this ride seems to increase each season - I would have to agree.

2009-07-25T09:54:00.002-04:00

July has been a tough month for cyclists here in central Ohio. For me, a good friend and team mate experienced a painful race-related crash that required an extended hospital stay as part of his recovery. And, along with countless area cyclists, I experienced the tragic loss of a kind, safe and well respected rider. The sad details of this fatal accident are well known so I won’t elaborate on them here.

This morning I read a post from a cycling friend in which, as a result of last week’s cycling fatality, he shares his feelings regarding the dangers of our sport and some questions he has about getting back on his bike and riding on the roads. I guess I’ve been having those same thoughts as well.

Unfortunately serious bike accidents on the road can stir up feelings of “us against them” between cars and cyclists. Some motorists feel cyclists are dangerous obstacles that have no place on the road while some cyclists feel motorists resent cyclist’s legal rights to be there. These conflicting perspectives put me in a bit of a tough spot.

I am a cyclist and I love this sport. For me it is much more than a hobby or fitness activity. Cycling is a lifestyle and a way of life. My friends are cyclists, my vacations are cycling related and my free time is spent racking up thousands of miles each year. Cycling defines the person I am.

I’m also a motorist. My job requires that I drive around 50,000 miles each year visiting customers throughout Ohio, the adjoining states and beyond. Unfortunately bike commuting is not an option for me but I support (and sometime envy) my friends who have the wonderful opportunity to choose this healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transport.

I try to use my “dual role” perspective to be a safe driver who is considerate of cyclists I encounter on the road and to be a safe, predictable cyclist who is aware that I share the road with motorists facing their own share of daily challenges. I think most folks feel the same way. But it is that small minority of inconsiderate or distracted individuals we need to be aware of when we are behind the wheel or on the saddle.

In the end I acknowledge the dangers of road cycling and plan to continue doing so because of the enjoyment and quality of life it provides. While this past weekend’s tragedy demonstrates that safe riding does not eliminate serious dangers, I’ll ride as carefully and defensively as I can to reduce these risks as much as possible. I’m also hopeful that increased awareness and empathy between motorists and cyclists will help make our roads safer for everyone.

Steve Barbour Update – very sad news

2009-07-22T08:55:00.003-04:00

Last night I learned that Steve Barbour had sustained serious, irreversible brain damage as a result of his cycling injury this past Saturday.

This morning I was informed that Steve has passed away as a result of his injuries. Our cycling community has experienced a terrible loss in Steve's passing.

The understanding that the motorist who struck Steve was intoxicated is currently pending confirmation. If this is true I can only hope justice will be served to the fullest extent of the law when this irresponsible driver has his day in court.

Steve's family remains in my thoughts & prayers.

Painful Riding

2009-07-20T15:38:00.003-04:00

Summer is a great time of year for lots of reasons. Cook outs, concerts, vacations, and of course, cycling with friends. However, summer also seems to have become a very dangerous time of year to be out on our bikes. Earlier this summer, on two separate occasions, a few good friends of mine (including Marco) took bad spills when a dog chased the group and ran into them during a regular weekly ride. Both of these accidents could have been avoided if the dog’s owners were responsible and law abiding pet owners who kept their animals tied up or inside a fence. Each incident resulted in the riders taking a trip to the hospital to be X-rayed and patched up.

This past weekend two other friends were involved in cycling accidents which were even more serious. My team mate George is currently in the hospital with 6 broken ribs and a fractured scapula after tangling with someone at the Troy race this past weekend. Steve Barbour, a long time cyclist who is active with COP, was struck by a motorist in Hilliard early Saturday morning while on his way to lead a group ride headed to Bellefontaine. Currently Steve is hospitalized and is in a coma. Sadly, rumor has it the motorist who struck Steve was intoxicated.

Cycling is a great past time and it’s a big part of my life. Unfortunately cycling also seems to be getting more dangerous. Maybe it is simply due to more people becoming involved in the sport as it grows in popularity. But at the end of the day each of these incidents could have been avoided if the individuals causing them had been acting in a responsible manner.

Tripping to Peru (Part 2): Cuzco & the Inca Trail

2009-07-15T19:56:00.024-04:00

Tripping to Peru (Part 1)

More on our trip to Peru from this past May:

Cuzco:

After our walking tour through Lima it was back to the hotel for some well needed rest before flying out to Cuzco the next morning.

The next morning we were up at 4:00 am to take a quick shower, pack and enjoy a quick breakfast of coffee and warm bread with jam. We also met Tilly, an attorney from Germany who would join us on our trip to Cuzco, the Sacred Valley and the Amazon Jungle. Tilly is an attorney from Germany who has lived in the UK for many years. So many years, in fact, that she had developed a British accent. Around 5:30 we were picked up by a van and taken to the airport where we would catch our flight to Cuzco.

We landed in Cuzco and met Lucho, our guide for the next several days. He was a really great guy with lots of enthusiasm and knowledge about the area. Cuzco is a beautiful, historic city that was once the capitol of the entire Inca Empire that totaled as many 4 million people at it peak sometime in the 1500’s. Firm dates and history on the Inca people are unknown since their civilization did not have a written language.

We spent the day in Cuzco touring the city, checking out the food market and the San Pedro craft market where we bought lots of great souvenirs. We also walked up the steep roads to Sacsayhuaman (pronounced "sexy woman") to check out the remains of a really incredible Inca community. Lucho took us to a great shop that sold delicious coca tea and coca chocolates. We enjoyed this shop so much that we visited it again when we returned to Cuzco later in our trip.

While we were in Cuzco we went horseback riding over some paths that took us to a number of different Inca remains. One memorable part of this activity was almost getting kicked by my horse when I made the greenhorn mistake of walking behind it. Lesson learned, I’m pretty certain I won’t make that error again.

After a nice dinner at a great authentic Peruvian restaurant, it was back to the hotel for bed before another early morning wake up call for our trip on to the Inca Trail!

The Inca Trail!

Early the next morning we were up for breakfast before meeting our Martin & Joseph, our tour guides for the Inca Trail. They weighed our stuff sacks of clothes and mine was about 1 pound over the weight limit. Porters would carry our bags along the trail and there was a weight limit for the amount of baggage we could bring. I removed a half dozen Mojo bars and 1 base layer shirt and stuffed them in my daypack and this brought the weight of my stuff sack within the limits. We then climbed aboard the large van which included the rest of our Inca Trail group and we were off and running.

The ride to the start of the Inca trail probably took an hour or so and included a few memorable events. As we climbed up the mountain and along the curving roads someone in our van yelled “pull over” just before Kyle, one of the passengers, became sick. We originally thought Kyle was suffering from motion sickness but later we learned that he and the rest of his family ate something that didn’t sit well with them. After pulling off the road to dismount and clean up the inside of the van, we loaded up again and continued on. As we got closer to the start of the trail we saw several sections of road with piles of rocks in them that became obstacles for our van as well as other vehicles traveling along in front and behind us. We later learned from our guides that the rocks had been placed in the road by local farmers who were on strike in opposition to the Peruvian government’s plan to privatize the supply of water that flowed from the Andes Mountains. This water was a free resource the farmers used for their crops and privatization would create a major expense that would threaten their livelihood.

After stopping a few times to move rocks from the road our van arrived at the start of the Inca Trail where we grouped up, received our bag of snacks for the 4-day hike, received a briefing on our upcoming journey and paid our fees to hike the trail. We also receive a very cool stamp in our passports!

It is really difficult to summarize the next 4 days of our trip. Our hike though the Andes Mountains along the Inca trail was totally incredible and this portion of our adventure was a highlight of the trip. We started off at a relatively low altitude where the weather was sunny and warm and we would eventually hike up to an elevation of 13,800 feet where we reached at “Dead Women’s Pass” the day before reaching Macho Pichu. The entire trail was paved with large stones set into the ground hundreds of years ago. According to our guides it is believed that the Inca people had quarries throughout the region to supply the stones and that slaves may have been used to set the stones in place. But the skill, time and human resources that must have been required to complete this incredible task are mind boggling to me.

We were really well cared for during our trip along the Inca Trail. Each day we would stop for lunch at a scenic spot where tents had been set up and hot, delicious food had been prepared for us. We would then hike the rest of the afternoon before arriving at our campsite for the evening where the dining tent had been set up along with the tents all of us would sleep in each evening. We were served hot coca tea and a light snack before dinner and we enjoyed a great meal by candle light each evening. Our porters set everything up and tore everything down each day and then carried our moving campsite along the trails. It was incredible to watch these nimble footed men fly past us on the trail while carrying large loads of tents, chairs, food and personal items. One memory that stands out for me was watching one porter carry two 5-gallon cans of water up a steep section of the trail as I struggled to climb the same section with only a light daypack. These guys were truly amazing.

Our first evening at camp the sky was crystal clear and we could see satellites passing along the sky. We also saw the Milky Way, the Southern Cross and a large, brilliant shooting star.

The sights along the trail were more incredible than anything I can put into words. Beautiful valleys, mountain views, wild life and flora were our constant companions as we hiked toward Machu Pichu.

Coming up: Machu Pichu!

Tripping to Peru (Part 3)

Daddy needs a new pair of shoes

2009-07-15T07:27:00.006-04:00

Well, “needs” might be a bit strong, but “wants” definitely applied when my sweetie and I stopped at Performance on Sunday (sorry Butch!). Actually I have been in the market for a new pair of cycling shoes for awhile since the distinctive yellow Time shoes I’ve been wearing for several years have been looking a bit long in the tooth for some time.

People who know me will probably agree that I can be a bit frugal and it takes awhile to pull the trigger on a major purchase (for me new shoes fall into that category). I wasn’t planning to buy anything during our little shopping excursion but shortly after entering the store I spotted the Shimano R160 cycling shoes which were marked down from $219.99 to $124.00. On top of that my sweetie had a 15% off coupon that she agreed to share with me! After trying on these shoes and liking the look and the fit, I walked out the door with a nice pair of carbon soled cycling shoes for about $105.00. Bingo!

So I began thinking about the different pairs of cycling shoes I have worn since I began riding in my school days (I still have every pair of cycling shoes I have ever owned). The first shoes I bought were a pair of Detto Piettro Art 74’s that I ordered from the Bike Nashbar catalog sometime around 1982 for about $29.00. I recall that I also needed to order a pair of Nashbar’s “knock off” Campy pedals with Christophe toe straps and some aluminum toe clips. After figuring out the position of the cleats I was off on my bike, feeling like a true cyclist. During this ride I fell over at a stop light when I couldn’t loosen the toe straps in time to pull my feet out. Injuring nothing other than my pride, I pressed on and soon became comfortable in my stylish new Italian cycling shoes.

As so often happens in cycling, technology took a step forward with the advent of clipless pedals in the mid 80’s. I resisted this latest development as long as I could until a few years later when Gerry Fornes posted a small ad in the FBCI newsletter stating he was selling off some of his copious extra cycling gear. Listed in his add were a pair of new Time pedals he won in a race so they were being sold pretty cheap (my kind of deal!). I recall being interested in the Time pedals because at that time they had more float than the Looks and they would be easier on my knees. Since these pedals did not fit my Detto’s I was off to the old Nashbar Outlet store in Arlington where I picked up some Sidi’s (on sale!) that worked with these pedals when a thick plastic adapter plate was bolted to the sole. As a bonus the Sidi’s sported velcro strips which were much easier to use than the laces on my Detto’s. No more falling over at stop signs for me!

The Sidi’s served me well for over 10 years before they started showing signs of age. In the late 90’s Brother Jeff told me about a website in the UK that was offering Time shoes (in that fashionable yellow color) for a very attractive price since, at that time, the US dollar was strong against the British Pound. I guess I didn’t really need a new pair of shoes but it would be nice to get away from those bulky adapter plates.

So for about 10 more years those distinctive yellow Time shoes were my constant cycling companion through hill and valley, sun and rain and occasional snow. The Time’s are probably the first pair of shoes I have replaced before they were worn out or rendered obsolete. But these new Shimano’s felt right and I’m sure they will enjoy an equally long life (as long as pedal technology doesn’t change any time soon).

I guess a lot of cycling gear is replaced before it is truly worn out as we become seduced by the latest style, color or gram saving widget being used by the pros in Europe. But four pairs of cycling shoes in 27 years isn’t too bad, is it?

Greetings from Asheville

2009-07-09T20:43:00.019-04:00

Tom Will and Marco climbing the Parkway en route to Mt. Mitchell

Mark & Mel - our tour directors for the week

The boys on Mount Mitchell

This week I had the opportunity to participate in Mark & Mel’s annual trek to Asheville NC. This is the 3rd trip I have made with them and I love taking in some of the very best cycling to be found in these here 50 states.

I got in to town about 11:30 Sunday evening and, after enjoying a late night slice of Mellow Mushroom pizza, I was off to bed. The next morning, after watching the day’s stage of the Tour de France, Mark, Mel and I set off from our rental house for a ride through Asheville and onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. We climbed up 5000 feet to the Mount Pisgah Inn where we re-fueled on Cokes and oatmeal crème cookies at the Inn’s general store. After a few minutes rest we pulled on our arm warmers and bombed back down the mountain and rolled back home. The weather was great and the roads were smooth.

The next day we took a break to visit some bike shops and relax around the house in preparation of the arrival of Tom and Andy Will who would join us after taking a few days to do some mountain biking.

Marco and Andy on their way up the mountain

This morning our group of 5 drove on the Parkway to the Craggy Gardens visitor center where we set off on our bikes for the climb up to Mount Mitchell. At 6700 feet Mount Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi. The weather was cool and overcast which made for a comfortable ride up the mountain.

The fog was thick as pea soup at the summit of Mt. Mitchell.

As we neared the top of Mt. Mitchell fog appeared and it grew more thick as we approached the summit. At the top, visibility was limited which made for an interesting and at times, dicey descent back down the mountain. Once we reached the Parkway the fog cleared and we had a nice ride back to Craggy Garden.

Riding home in style - just me and the bikes!

Tonight we are watching the day’s recap of the Tour De France and looking forward to tomorrow which should offer another great day on the bikes.

Mel shows the boys how she is gonna drop us like a bad habit on the descent back down the mountain!

Tripping to Peru (Part 1) Lima, Ica & Nazca

2009-07-02T15:59:00.013-04:00

I can’t believe it has been a little over a month since my Sweetie and I ventured to Peru for our “adventure of a lifetime”. Actually the adventure began before we left Columbus on May15th. Our flight was supposed to leave around 2:30 Friday afternoon and we would fly through Atlanta and then on to Lima with an ETA Saturday morning. While waiting in Port Columbus we learned that a member of the flight crew refused to work our flight which caused a cancellation. We were then re-routed to Cincinnati and then on to JFK in New York where we would then fly on to Lima. To make a long story short, we had one heck of an adventure getting to JFK where our 12:30 am flight was delayed until around 2:30 am. We finally boarded our LAN Chile flight and arrived late, but safely, in Lima Saturday afternoon. The LAN flight and crew were great! The service and food we received (2 meals – dinner and lunch!) were well above average. We received two flight vouchers from Delta for the cancelled flight and these will come in handy for our next adventure.

Our plan after arriving in Lima was to travel south to Ica where we would enjoy sand boarding and sand buggying on the dunes before traveling on to see the Nazca Lines. The flight delay prevented us from enjoying the sand dunes since we did not arrive in Ica until late Saturday evening. The hotel where stayed in Ica was really great and they offered a nice breakfast which included lots of local fruits like mango, papaya, cactus and my very favorite fruit: grenadilla.

After an early breakfast we were picked up at our hotel for the ride to Nazca which took about 1 ½ hours. The area between Ica and Nazca is mostly dessert but the scenery is still pretty interesting with a variety of plant life and rocky terrain. In Nazca we drove to the airport where we took a 45 minute plane ride to see the Nazca Lines – mysterious stone carvings in the desert floor. The carvings included various animals and designs and no one knows for sure how they came to be. While we were flying a girl in our plane became air sick due to all the sharp maneuvers our pilot took to allow passengers on both sides of the plane to see the different designs. My stomach survived the flight but I think another 20 minutes of swerving around the sky above Nazca may have taken its toll on me.

After our flight was over we were given a ride into Nazca where we had some time to walk around the town, check out some local markets, and then visit the Nazca museum before catching a quick lunch. The museum was pretty cool with lots of history and artifacts from the ancient Nazca civilization that once inhabited the area. Included in the artifacts were mummies, skulls and tombs – definitely some pretty cool stuff! After lunch it was time to catch our double decker bus for the long ride back to Lima where we arrived late that evening.

We arrived in Lima that evening where we were picked up at the bus station by our tour company and then taken to our hotel in Miraflora. Upon arrival at our hotel we learned that they did not have our reservation or an available room. After showing the hotel clerk a copy of the confirmation of our hotel reservation, he grabbed our bags and walked us down the street to a neighboring hotel where we were able to secure comfortable lodging for the evening. After a comfortable night’s sleep we would have time the next morning to tour Miraflora before meeting up with the rest of our tour group for our upcoming excursion to Cuzco, The Sacred Valley, The Inca Trail and then on to the Amazon Jungle.

Coming up…Cuzco and the Inca Trail.

Tripping to Peru (Part 2)

Tripping to Peru (Part 3)

Wretched Excess

2009-07-01T14:23:00.008-04:00

I received my Colorado Cyclist Catalog this week and while leafing through it yesterday morning I came across the new Shimano Dura Ace Di2 electronic shifter upgrade. While I have read some positive reviews on this new product I was still totally bowled over by the price tag for this kit which consists a set of shifters, a battery and a front & rear derailleur. Listed at nearly $3300.00 I have to wonder how much better this innovation may perform compared to the mechanical counterpart which costs about $1000.00.

Seeing this product and its exorbitant price tag made me think a bit more about something that has been troubling to me for some time – the unbelievable increase in the cost of bike gear. Looking through this same catalog I saw $2000.00 wheel sets from Mavic and $6000.00 frame sets from Time. Doing some quick math in my head it seems it would be easy to pay over $14,000 for a full bike from these guys.

If you put together a bike this expensive is there any way you could hop on it for a spin around town without a pair of $500.00 bike shoes, a $250.00 helmet, a $300.00 jersey and a $250.00 pair of shorts?. Oh yea, I almost forgot about that pair of $250.00 sunglasses. That’s almost $1600.00 in gear! Do the products that carry these high price tags perform noticeably better than their lesser priced counterparts?

This isn't a criticism of Colorado Cyclist. I like this company and have purchased quite a few items from them over the years. Besides, I’m sure other mail order vendors offer products along these same price lines.

I’m not sure if customer demand for new innovations are fueling these high prices or if the component companies themselves are simply pushing the price envelope year after year in an effort to see how much money they can charge for the latest gram-saving widget. Regardless of the reason I better get used to the bike I’m riding now because I surely don’t see myself being able to afford an upgrade any time soon.

Like Father Like Son

2009-06-24T07:38:00.006-04:00

Driving home from last night's Tuesday evening throwdown ride in Delaware I pulled up behind Tom Will to see he was using the same mode of transportation to get he and his bicycle to and from the ride that his son Andy used at last year's Mid Ohio race. Pretty resourceful if you ask me.

last night's ride was a hot one with temps in the upper 80's as I rolled into Deleware around 5:30. The pace was strong and we could tell who the fit racers are in our group as we rolled through the rural roads of Deleware County.

Andy at last year's Mid Ohio Race

(Not) Gone but (maybe) forgotten

2009-06-10T06:48:00.003-04:00

Hola Chicos,

Well, what can I say -its been a long long time since I posted anything to my blog. Like a tree falling in the forest when no one is around, this blog probably isn't noticed anymore due to the lack of content. Hopefully I can get back on track and bring things up to date.

As far as riding is concerned, racing has been non existent for me this season. I came out to race at Mid Ohio with my fellow Breakaway boyz earlier in the Spring and surprised myself by hanging with the pack until the finish. Mid Ohio is always an awesome venue and I love riding around the race course any time the opportunity presents itself. My fellow Breakaway team mates have been having a strong race season. Marco, Godfatha, Farmer John et al are shaking things up each week.

Last year was a really great race season for me and our team, but this year has presented some other areas of focus for me so I am approaching cycling from more of a recreational and fitness perspective this summer. I am cheering on my team mates from the sidelines this season and hoping to tee things up again in 2010.

A few weeks ago I returned from an incredible 2 week trip to Peru. My beautiful girlfriend and I traveled south to visit Lima, Cuzco, Machu Pichu, Ica, Nazca and the Amazon jungle. Words can't explain what an incredible adventure we shared together. I promise to post some photos soon! Now that I have caught the travel bug we are already thinking about where our next adventure may take us.

Last weekend I was on the bike for the first time in 3 weeks - what a reality check! All the power was gone from my legs and I realized how much work lays ahead of me to try and regain some portion of my lost fitness. No worries - my hope is to begin riding as many times a week as possible.

Upon my return from vacation I learned of the untimely passing of Larry Allen, a close friend of our Breakaway cycling family. A strong rider and a man of outstanding character, I'll fondly remember Larry from our weekly training rides and our group cycling trips to Boone, N.C. Larry was taken from us way too soon and he will be missed!

Well, that's about all for now. Hopefully this posting signals my return to the blogging world with more postings to follow soon.

Enjoy and be safe!

Long Standing Writer Strike Appears to be Over!

2008-12-31T13:04:00.005-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rumors of a settlement in the 6-month writer strike at Sprocket Rocket now appear to be fact. Sources close to the Sprocket Rocket who spoke at the request of remaining anonymous, confirmed that terms have been agreed to which will allow Sprocket Rocket to continue posting miscelaaneous ramblings during the upcoming 2009 cycling season.

Although terms of the agreement have not been made public, our anonymous source was able to confirm that various carbon fiber & alloy components were brought to the negotiating table in an effort to kick start Sprocket Rocket for 2009.

When asked his opinion concerning the settlement at Sprocket Rocket, Rylo, longstanding local cycling activist and pasta aficionado was quoted as saying “I’m not sure why this is such a big deal – not that many people read his stuff anyway. My blog is much more interesting and thought provoking. Besides, Sprocket hasn’t been on his bike in 2 months and I wouldn’t expect anything interesting from that lazy bastard anytime soon.” When asked the reason for his Vitriolic comments Rylo responded “No reason in particular. You just need to understand that my dog Louie can ride a bike better than him”. No one from Sprocket Rocket was available to comment on Rylo’s remarks.

Look for more posts at Sprocket Rocket in the near future.

Tour de Grandview Criterium

2008-06-30T08:14:00.003-04:00

Saturday's Grandview criterium went well for teamroll:. Me...not so much. Slow to warm up, I didn't find my cycling legs until about halfway through the race after the main field was down the road. Picked up a few other stragglers and finished off of the pace.

Congrats to roll:er John Price for his top 5 finish in a fast race with a very strong field. Our teammate Jaybone has a really nice write up in his blog.

Granville Grand Prix

2008-06-21T22:40:00.011-04:00

Matt Herring wins big!

Photo courtesy of Eric George - The Newark Advocate

This has been a pretty awesome weekend for team roll:. After winning in Worthington on Friday night the 4-5 squad was back in action today in the Granville Grand Prix. Our team included John Price, Matt Herring, Dave Chambers, Marco Corroto and George Conti. This year's Granville course was changed a bit from last year and included a pretty serious climb up the bricks to the Dennison campus and then a fast descent down into town. The 4-5's stayed together most of the race and at the end it was a podium sweep for roll: with Matt Herring taking the win followed by John Price and Dave Chambers in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Marco and George were right there finishing in the top 10. Great job guys!

Josh Morrow and I were in the 3-4 race. It was big ring "go-like-hell" right from the start and I lost contact with the lead group after the 2nd time up the climb. I tried to have a good warm-up beforehand but it obviously wasn't enough. As the race progressed I felt better and was able catch some other riders to make up 3 or 4 positions. Most of my race was a solo effort and I ended up in 5th place. Josh Morrow was on his "A" game tonight and rode a terrific race finishing in 3rd place and in the money! Way to go Josh! A strong young rider from Team-COBC/Raisin Rack won the 3-4 race. Unfortunately I didn't get his name.

Josh riding strong.

Photo courtesy of Eric George - The Newark Advocate

This was an extremely challenging course and despite my pain and suffering I had a really fun time. Today's race was tied in to the last stage of the Tour of Ohio so the crowds were great and the organization was top notch. Team Columbus did a great job presenting another safe & challenging racing weekend.

Don Moxley deserves a huge atta-boy for making the call of the day. The 3-4 race was scheduled to begin at 5:00 and Don herded everyone together early so we could start at 4:45 due to the forecast for bad weather. During the last few laps of our race the rain began to fall and as we finished the skies opened up. Rain came down, thunder clapped and lightning lit up the sky as I rode to my car to put away my bike. When I reached the car it began to hail! If the race began 5 minutes later we would have been riding in a real mess.

I figured the day's excitement was over after the race when it was time to go home. But driving through Reynoldsburg back to Columbus I was rear ended at a red light. Fortunately I got the guy's drivers license info. and license plate number because he took off while we were waiting for the police. He didn't have insurance which is probably why he bolted (sounds like a topic for another blog?). This is one more thing I'll have to deal with next week. The Columbus Police Officers who helped me out were great and I can't say enough about the service they provide to our city every day. The next time I see mayor Coleman I'll recommend they all receive a raise!

Worthington Classic

2008-06-21T08:25:00.013-04:00

Last night teamroll: was well represented and rode strong in the Worthington Classic which was the appetizer race before the Tour of Ohio boys took to the course. Chairman Fred and I were corner marshalls and it was a beautiful night to be outside and enjoy some great racing.

Our race had a nice sized field that included roll: racers Dave Chambers, George Conti, Marco Corroto and John Price. Other teams in the field included Echelon, Raisin Rack/COBC & A Gear Higher. Roll: did a nice job of controlling things from the start and we had someone up front from start to finish. Two thirds of the way through the race a break of about 7 riders was able to get away and it included Dave Chambers and John Price. The team worked well together and at the end John Price was able to do teamroll: proud by coming away with the win. Great job John!

It looks like the Tour of Ohio is a big success this year. There were over 100 riders in their field with teams coming from all over the Midwest. Inferno appears to be controlling the race and has possession of the overall leader's jersey. Haydon Godfrey added to Inferno's success by winning last night's race. The Tour of Ohio finishes up today in Granville. Roll: will be there for the 3-4 & 4-5 races.

No More Cycling Heroes

2008-06-11T21:23:00.007-04:00

A few weeks ago my good friend Marco asked if I had any cycling heroes. Most people when asked this question would likely name off any number of cycling superstars who currently ply their trade at the top of our sport. There was a time not so long ago when I would have responded the same way.

My adoration of big time cyclists came to an end during what for me was a watershed moment in the 2007 Tour de France. Only days before the race’s conclusion in Paris Michael Rasmussen, who was leading the race and was the almost certain winner, was pulled by the organizers for missed drug tests and an alleged breach in his travel and training routine. It was painful for me to watch Michael implode during the final time trial of the 2006 Tour de France so his success in 2007 was exciting to me and I was cheering him on each day as the race moved toward the Champs Elysees. When Michael was pulled from the race and the winner’s yellow jersey was awarded to the 2nd place rider I was just short of devastated. Then to pour salt in the wound Alexander Vinokourov, one of my favorite riders because of his aggressive and tenacious riding style, was ejected for doping. These events came on the heels of scandals involving Tyler Hamilton and Floyd Landis; two other cyclists I once greatly admired. For me, this marked the end of big time cycling heroes.

So I was less than shocked when I read this week that Tom Boonen is under investigation for possession of cocaine. I admire Tom’s talent and strength and even posted a congratulatory entry after he won Paris Roubaix this past Spring. But unfortunately Tom is one more example of how much more is needed to clean up our sport. I know cocaine is not a performance-enhancing drug but that matters little in this case. We see professional cyclists on TV or the Internet each week during race season but we don’t know much about them at all. Who dopes? Who is clean? I have no idea. These are definitely not the stuff of heroes. It now looks like Boonen is out of this year’s Tour and I wonder who will win the green jersey? I’m afraid I don’t care as much this year.

I still watch races on Versus because I love the sport itself. Even as a racer of limited talent and ability I know enough about cycling to appreciate the strategy, teamwork and suffering involved in our beautiful sport. But something is now missing in my feelings toward the racers themselves. Call it a self defense mechanism, but I have grown weary of being disappointed by someone I hold in high regard.

Has pro cycling made an effort to clean itself up? Definitely. Do they still have a long, long way to go? Absolutely. Until the pro riders prove to me they are clean and respectable I will reserve my admiration for a group more deserving.

XM Radio Installation in a 2008 Honda Civic

2008-06-08T16:26:00.025-04:00

A few months ago I began driving an ’08 Civic EX and wanted to install my existing XM Satellite radio receiver. I have a Delphi Roadie XT receiver that comes standard with a cassette adapter. However, Honda now includes a CD player as standard equipment and the old cassette player is no longer available. Fortunately Honda also includes an MP3 jack on all Civics (except the entry level DX). Having the MP3 jack makes installation of XM Radio a breeze.

Before I get too far, I’ll mention that XM also includes an FM modulator on most of their current radio receivers. For this to work you stick a small adhesive-backed contact over the radio antennae inside the rear window. You then select an FM channel in your XM receiver and link the wire from the adhesive contact to the antennae wire. To listen to XM you tune your radio to the frequency programmed into the XM receiver. If you drive a vehicle without an MP3 jack or a cassette player this is one of your only options for listening to XM. Unfortunately the sound quality is pretty bad and I’m sure anyone using this connection method would be disappointed. Another problem with this method aside from the poor sound quality is that you need to re-program the frequency in your XM receiver if you ever travel into an area that broadcasts an FM signal on the frequency that was originally programmed into the receiver.

Since Honda includes the MP3 jack on the Civic (except for the DX) the FM modulator problem is a non-issue. As mentioned above, installation is really easy with the MP3 jack and it took me approximately 30 minutes to be up and running. The only additional accessory I needed to buy was the MP3 cable which I picked up from Best Buy for about $20.00. Since the power outlet and the MP3 outlet are right next to each other below the dashboard, the installation looks pretty clean. XM includes a spiral looking tube to join together the wires and cables and this really improves the look of the installation.

Here are the basic steps for installation:

1. Mount the receiver cradle (I mounted my unit to the air vent using 2 clips included with the receiver) and place the receiver into the cradle.

2. Connect the MP3 cable to the receiver and plug it into the jack.

3. Connect the power cable to the receiver and then plug it into the power outlet.

4. Connect the antennae wire to the receiver and then run wire to the outside of the car. Place the magnetic antennae “puck” on the roof of the car.

5. Tidy up the cables coming from the receiver and hide the antennae wire so it is not visible.

6. Turn on the radio and enjoy XM.

No tools are required. Nothing to cut, tape or rig together.

Most of the time spent on installation is with the antennae wire. The antennae wire runs from the receiver along the inside of the center console up toward the firewall. From there the wire runs straight back under the carpet into the back seat area. The wire then runs under the rear floor mats and up between the left rear seat and door into the trunk (Since the rear seats fold down to expand the trunk area there are seams on the edges of the seats. It is very easy to run the antennae wire through these seams and into the trunk). The wire then comes up from the trunk lid to the rear window and along the edge of the glass to the roof. There is a recess along the edge of the glass to easily and securely hide the wire and there is no rubber seal to fight with like on some other vehicles. The antennae wire is very thin and is easily hidden under the floor mats and under seams where the carpet meets plastic panels. There is only about 4 inches of wire visible on the roof to where the puck is located.

Something nice about the Roadie XT - the receiver can easily be removed from the cradle and placed somewhere safe when not in use:

The power and MP3 cables mount near each other to help make a pretty clean install:

The antennae wire is virtually hidden where it snakes up between the rear seat and rear door:

From the rear seat the antennae wire comes across the top of the trunk back to the rear window. It is up and out of the way so it does not catch on items being placed in the trunk:

You can only see the antennae wire coming from the trunk to the rear window when the trunk is open

Only 4" of wire are visible where the antennae puck is placed on the roof:

The unit sounds very good and I’ve been pleased with quality. I used a cassette adapter in a previous vehicle and feel the sound through the MP3 connection is comparable.

The total cost of the setup is less than $100.00 ($60.00 for the receiver and $20.00 for the cable). I’m not sure if Honda offers dealer-installed XM for the Civic. If they do I’m sure the cost would be several times what I have in mine. I have read complaints from people in the past about all the wires that are visible with an owner-installed XM unit. However, I think my install is pretty clean and the only visible wires inside the car are those coming off the receiver which are neatly organized with the spiral tube mentioned earlier.

Bogey at 8:00

2008-06-08T08:26:00.005-04:00

No this entry isn't about a dog fight over enemy skies - a group of us met at the Bogey Inn Saturday morning for a 2 hour ride out to the Plain City area and back. It was already hot and humid when I unloaded my bike shortly after 7:30 and the skies looked like rain could fall anytime. Fortunately the rain held off and we had a pleasant ride.

It looks like Dave Chambers got cut out of this shot - Sorry! (Darn camera phones)

Nothing eventful today. We had a nice group of about 10 riders and the pace was brisk but steady. With no racing this weekend I enjoyed the break.

Cycling Tragedy in Mexico

2008-06-03T06:21:00.003-04:00

This terrible cycling tragedy occurred during an organized bike tour in Mexico. One cyclist was killed and several more were seriously injured.

Drunk and stupid are a really bad combination especially if you are moron enough to get behind the wheel of a car.

Keep the victims of this accident in your thoughts!

Nelsonville Criterium - Shake, Rattle and Roll!

2008-06-01T19:26:00.005-04:00

2 races in 2 days with 1 set of old legs can make for a difficult combination. Today the team roll: "Masters Caravan" headed south to Nelsonville for the Star Brick Criterium. Our masters included "Chairman" Fred Parks, "Marco" Corroto, "Cadillac" George Conti and me. We had a pretty good sized masters field which included the Mighty Scott Young who has been my racing comrade through most of the Torelli Spring Series.

The finishing stretch was all brick and it was showing its age during the race. We all spent the first several laps working to find the smoothest line with the least amount of bouncing on our bikes.

The Masters started one minute behind a pretty large 3-4 field and we kept them in our sights for several laps. At one point I thought we might even bridge up to them until they finally dropped the hammer and moved on down the road. Our race was pretty uneventful with your typical criterium jumps and attacks until about halfway through the race when George made a strong attack off the front. Fred jumped and bridged up to George and we had the makings of a nice breakaway. Marco and I worked to control the field and several laps later Fred drifted back to us.

George stayed off the front for a long time and it looked like his break might stick until the 3-4's came through our group and ended up pulling our field up to George. Some cat and mouse took place until we were down to about 3 laps to go. At this point Scott made a big jump off the front and it took everything I had to pull him back. I burned some of my few remaining matches to get back on Scott's wheel and coming into the homestretch a rider in an OU jersey attacked the sprint and I didn't have enough in the legs to come around him. I ended up in 2nd with Marco and George and right on my wheel. I was a bit disappointed and felt like I let the team down but gave it everything I had.

With the Spring series finished I have a week or so to recharge my batteries and prepare for the rest of the season.

Hocking Hills Road Race

2008-05-31T18:59:00.006-04:00

Andy Will, Josh Morrow and I represented teamroll: today at the Tour of Hocking Hills. We were able to race together since the 1-2, 3-4 and Masters rolled out together. It was great for me to race with my teammates.

Hocking Hills is always a tough race since it includes the Jack Run and Cantwell Cliffs climbs. Jack Run is the shorter of the two climbs but it is also steeper and many of us racing felt it is the tougher of the 2 climbs. This was also the first race of the season that had hot temperatures and I was definitely feeling the heat by the time we were finished.

Before we were one mile into the race Devin Hurst, a young rider from Savage Hill, made a strong attack off the front. After several miles we reeled him back in and most of us probably thought that was the end of that. After the climb up Jack Run he made another attack that stayed clear for a few miles. We eventually reeled him back in and after a few miles he took off again. Devin ended up making 4 attacks and a few riders jumped on his last one and they were gone. Devin ended up winning today's 3-4 race and I was very impressed with his aggressive riding. I'm sure we will be seeing more from Devin in the future.

Josh climbed really well and rode a great race today. He jumped onto a break with 3 riders during the last lap and they stayed away until the end. Josh finished up strong in 6th place.

Andy Will also rode strong today and finished 2nd in the 1-2 race. I believe he also secured 2nd place overall in the Spring series.

In the Masters race I stayed close to the Mighty Scott Young. Scott is a strong climber so I knew I would have my work cut out for me. We stayed with the main group until reaching the top of Jack Run on the final lap. At that point 4 of us drifted off the pace and rode together to the finish. Scott, Mike Carroll and I pulled clear on the finial climb to the finish and I was able to sneak across at the end for 1st in Masters.

Today's race completed the Team Columbus Spring Series so my lucky number 708 can be retired. Overall the series was safe and well run. Everyone I talked to really enjoyed the racing. As mentioned in past posts, larger fields would be the icing on the cake and hopefully we will see the number of participants increase. With so many races so close to home at a time when gas prices are pushing $4.00 a gallon, it really makes sense to support local racing in Central Ohio. Team Columbus is offering several more races this season and they can be seen on the Team Columbus schedule.

I'm not a pro cyclist but I did stay at a Days Inn last night.

2008-05-30T17:00:00.009-04:00

This was another travel week for work and last night I stayed overnight just off the Pennsylvania turnpike near Murraysville since I had an early meeting in East Pittsburgh this morning. My first choices in lodging (Hampton Inn & Holiday Inn) were booked up for the night so perhaps I was lucky to find a room at the nearby Days Inn. The room was only $61.00 and the girl at the front desk asked if I was paying "cash or charge?". Having never heard that question before at a hotel and, since they didn't ask to see an I.D., it made me wonder how many fugitives and people on the lamb pay cash at hotels?

Once in the room I realized why they only charged $61.00. Nothing too terrible other than water dripping from the ceiling onto the vanity (and onto the floor) all night and a toilet that constantly made strange gurgling noises. Looking out from my window I could see a dumpster with 3 mattresses leaning up against it - one can only imagine...

I was up early this morning and on the road shortly before 7:00. Walking to my car I was surprised to see what appeared to be the entire Rock Racing caravan parked in the lot including 3 Cadillac SUV's (2 with trailers) and a large truck with trailer. Looking at Rock's website they are scheduled to race the CSC invitational in Arlington, VA on June 1st so that is probably where they are headed.

I would have loved to meet some of the guys on the team but there is no doubt they were still sound asleep as I was hitting the road. I hope their rooms were a little nicer than mine.

Memorial Day

2008-05-26T19:00:00.008-04:00

My father with a member of Lima Company at the Worthington Memorial Day Parade in 2006:

Memorial day is always a special holiday for my family. In addition to its most important purpose of remembering the men and women who have given their lives for our country, Memorial Day is a time for family, cookouts and parades.

During the last few years Memorial Day has taken the added importance for me of spending time with my father who is a World War Two veteran. My father enlisted in the US Army in 1942 just a few months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. After completing basic training he was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division in Europe. During the war he served under General George Patton in 4 different theatres including the Normandy Landing, the Battle of the Bulge, Bastogne and North Africa. After receiving the Distinguished Service Medal he was discharged from the Army in 1946. He continued to serve our country in the Army Reserves until the early 1960's.

Six years ago my father suffered a stroke which seriously impacted his ability to get around and to do many of the day to day activities most of us take for granted. However, some things the stroke did not take away are my father's patriotism and his encyclopedic memory of World War Two history.

This morning when it was time to roll down the street to watch Worthington's annual Memorial Day Parade dad said he would like to wear his military dress jacket. Mom wondered if it would fit but I was sure it would since dad has lost quite a bit of weight since his stroke. Sure enough it fit like it did the day he first reported for duty. I pinned a few of his medals on the jacket (Dad has more medals than we had time to pin on him) and we rolled down the street to the parade.

I was so proud of my father as one person after another came up to him at the parade to ask him where he served and to thank him for his service to our country. He is my hero for so many reasons in addition to the fact that he served our nation in its time of need. I hope everyone takes advantage of this special day to remember those individuals who are special to them. Happy Memorial Day!

Hocking Hillapalooza

2008-05-25T19:07:00.003-04:00

I met the Mighty Scott Young in Logan this morning to hit the hills and ride next week's Hocking Hills race course. The weather was great and traffic surprisingly light despite the holiday weekend. I'm glad we covered next week's race course as I had forgotten how long and tough both Jack Run and the Cantwell Cliff climbs are. We'll need to ride smart and conserve energy on race day! Scott was climbing like a monster and we ended up with 4 hours and 60+ miles - I'll sleep like a baby tonight.

Mid Ohio Grand Prix

2008-05-24T21:56:00.008-04:00

Team roll: was well represented today at Mid Ohio including Mark Matrka & Dan Tinderholt in the 5 Open, Jaybone Allred in the 4-5, the talented young Andy Will in the 1-3, and Marco Corroto, Chairman Fred Parks, Cadillac George Conti and yours truly in the Masters. Brother Butch and Mel Corroto were among the many roll: fans who came out to cheer us on!

When we arrived at Mid Ohio we were not able to ride on the racetrack because the BMW club was still finishing up their testing in preparation for tomorrow's road race. As I said to a few folks at today's race, if you have any second thoughts about the cost of bike racing then come out and see the goings on at one of these car races. There were street Porsche's, 7-series BMW's and AC Cobra's among the other high dollar cars burning up gas, brakes and tires on the track. Don't get me wrong I love auto racing and it would be really cool to take one of these awsome cars out on the track. I spoke to someone before the race who was there with their car and they travel all over the country doing these events and there are over 40 races on the calender. It makes this bike racing thing look cheap by comparison.

So back to the race. By the time the cars were finished up we were a bit behind schedule so our race was shortened from 10 to 7 laps. No big breaks developed and our group stayed together until the finish when Cadillac George launched a powerful sprint and stayed away for the win! Marco was right on his wheel and finished in 2nd place. I finished in 3rd to make a clean podium sweep for teamroll:! This is how we planned it during the race and it was nice to see things come together the way they did. Chairman Fred road a strong race and showed off his recent training with a top 5 finish. Just wait 'til crit season Fred!

I didn't get to hear the other final results but Mark, Dan and Jay all looked really strong in their races. The talented young Andy had a strong sprint at the end of his tough 1-3 race and I believe he finished in the top 5.

Speaking of Andy, he wins this week's "most resourceful" award. As gas prices inch ever closer to $4.00 per gallon, I think Andy has figured out how to make his gas go as far as possible by using his motorcycle to travel to the races. I'm not sure I would have believed this could be done but Andy figured out a pretty slick system.

Tomorrow morning I'm meeting the Mighty Scott Young for a reconnaissance ride in the Hocking Hills to check out next week's race course. Should be a nice way to enjoy the great weather that is in tomorrow's forecast.

Sugar Grove Road Race

2008-05-17T20:23:00.017-04:00

I arrived home from North Carolina Friday evening shortly after 5:00. Andy and I burned up the road and we drove non-stop except for a quick pit stop for gas. After visiting my folks I came back home and unpacked a few things before hitting the rack fairly early. I wanted to get as good a night's sleep as possible to be ready for Sugar Grove.

Teamroll: was well represented today including Marco and me in the Masters race, Dan Tinderholt racing 5's, Pascal in the women's race and Iowa Josh Morrow in the 3-4's. As I arrived in Sugar Grove I noticed the traditional sprint finish through town was in terrible condition since they were doing quite a bit of work to the street. I was glad to hear that Tym decided to put the finish at the top of the climb to insure a safer race. Although it is tough, I love the hilltop finish and will always remember the talented young Mark Ames winning there in '03 when we were racing for Breakaway.

The Masters and the 3-4's raced together which was great because it was fun to race in a larger field. The weather was cloudy and the winds were strong and several times during the race it looked like we would see rain. But except for a few drops we were dry the whole race.

Several teams were present in our race including Stark Velo, Echelon, Inferno and Savage Hill - yes Savage Hill! It was great to see Savage Hill back in the peloton (on their home turf) and they rode strong today. We raced 5 laps (6 times up the climb) and for the most part the field was together except for 2 riders who got off the front and stayed clear. One of the riders was a Master (the same rider who dropped us in Yellow Springs) so I was racing for 2nd place in my group.

Gearing today was an 11-23 with a compact crankset - a combination that worked really well. My standard 23 cassette has a 12 tooth small cog but I swapped it out for an 11 and this really helped me keep up on the descents. The 23 gave me plenty of spin on the climbs.

In the past I have struggled to stay with the group through the fast descents on the other side of the climb but, as mentioned above, I was able to stay attached nicely today. Coming up the final climb to the finish I was maybe 20-30 feet off the small lead group and finished 2nd in Masters and Top 5 overall. A big "shout out" goes to Josh who rode a really strong race and was at the front of the field all day. I believe he finished 4th in the 3-4 race which is a great result on this tough course. It was great racing with him and I hope to do more of that as the season progresses.

Prior to the race both Tym and Don made a point to remind the field to obey the center line rule and stay on the right side of the road. Fortunately everyone heeded their request and we had a safe race. On one of the fast descents there was a truck in the oncoming lane coming through a blind curve and this could have been a dangerous situation if everyone wasn't riding smart.

New Zealand pro Hayden Godfrey was in the house today and he raced the pro 1-2 race. He is attached to the Inferno team for the remainder of this season so perhaps we will have an opportunity to see him again this season. I had the opportunity to meet Hayden a few years ago at Sugar Grove when he was racing with Health Net and he is a really nice guy. I'm sure he will be a huge addition to an already strong Inferno squad.

The Team Columbus Spring Series is winding down and we have 2 more races left: Mid Ohio and The Tour of Hocking Hills. These are both great courses and I hope there is a nice sized turnout for both of these events.

Some riding, some raining and some sightseeing

2008-05-15T15:03:00.015-04:00

Yesterday it was more climbing on the parkway. Marco, Mel and Andy climbed up to the top of Mt. Pisgah and I cut my ride a bit short to go back and fetch the car and meet those guys at the top of the climb. We went through about 5 tunnels and a few of them were long enough to kinda freak me out. Anyone who has ridden the Parkway probably knows the feeling - you ride into long tunnels that become darker and darker until they are virtually pitch black before seeing a small light at the other end. If you are in a long tunnel like this that curves it can be extra freaky.

After descending back to our start point and fetching the car, I drove to the top where Mel joined me for the drive down. We then followed Andy and Marco down so the car lights could illuminate the tunnels. Surprisingly the tunnels were not nearly as difficult on the descent even without lights, due to the speed moving through and the shorter time inside of the tunnels.

Cyclists are pretty resourceful when its time to change out of the kit after a long day on the saddle

After finishing our ride we changed and loaded up the car. Next stop was coffee at Biltmore Village. That night we dined on more Mellow Mushroom pie and it was then early to bed.

Light rain greeted us this morning.

This morning we awoke to light rain and decided to be tourists. This break was well earned after 4 consecutive days of climbing the Parkway. We visited The Grove Park Inn which I feel is a "must see" if you are in Asheville. We visited some stores in downtown Asheville and then had a late lunch before returning to the house.

The Grove Park Inn - these pictures don't come close to doing it justice.

Our hope was to try and get out for a little shakedown ride this afternoon but the rain started falling again after 4:00 and it looks like it may continue for awhile. This might be a good evening to lay low and chill out.

Pisgah National Forest

2008-05-14T07:04:00.018-04:00

As expected, Tuesday was the beautiful day we hoped for to take our long ride in the mountains. After a leisurely breakfast we loaded up the cars and headed to the Pisgah ranger station to begin our ride. Andy found this route during a previous trip and it worked out well for our group. We climbed approximately 13 miles up to where our road met the Blue Ridge parkway. I don't know the grade of this climb but using a compact crank I was in the 23 - 25 most of the time and maintained a steady spin while seated. A standard crank set would definitely require a 25 - 27.

The scenery was great and the traffic was pretty light. The lower portion of the road had some debris on it from from all the high winds that came through during the last few days.

After reaching the parkway we decided to take a 4-5 mile fast descent into Caruso where we filled up water bottles at the volunteer fire station. When we arrived at the fire station a TV news crew was interviewing someone about a fatal plane crash the took place the day before. After leaving Caruso we climbed back up to the parkway and then enjoyed the long, fast descent back to the ranger station.

Marco looking for our next big climb.

Driving along the parkway back to Asheville we stopped at the Pisgah Inn. There was a black bear on the side of the road less than 20 feet from the car (too bad my camera was in the trunk). That was the first time I ever saw a wild bear!

DISCLAIMER: while similar in appearance to the bear we saw at Pisgah - the photo below in not of that same animal.

After getting back to the house to shower and change we went to Carrier Park to watch some local track racing at the Mellow Drome, an old car racing track now used for cycling. There were 2 different classes and they ran several points matches. At the end of the evening there were 4 teams racing a Madison.

After watching the races we went to dinner at Barley's and then back to the house where I quickly crashed for the night

Blue Ridge Parkway - Day 1

2008-05-12T18:30:00.014-04:00

One of the first scenic overlooks I came to on the parkway. Not much elevation yet, but we'll be much higher by the end of the week

After last night's noodles and a few adult beverages I slept like a baby. When I got up this morning the winds were strong and the temps were chilly (50's). After breakfast we headed into town to check out some local sights and wait for the weather to warm up a bit before getting on our bikes. We went to Bio Wheels and Hearn's Cyclery - 2 very nice bike stores here in Asheville. Both shops had nice rides for sale. Hearn's also had some classic road bikes on display.

After checking out a few other stores we headed to the Mellow Mushroom for lunch. If you are ever in Asheville and want some good pizza pie, this is the place to go.

Andy and I got out on the bikes in the afternoon and hit the Parkway. We stayed together for about 30 minutes and then Andy was off on his own - a bit to quick for this old man to hang with. The higher I rode the windier it became. Fortunately the sun was out so my ride was pretty pleasant.

If you ever ride hills with Andy be prepared to have this view of his back wheel (until he completely vanishes down the road)

It is hard to see the wild turkey in this picture, but it was on the side of the road along the parkway and it let me walk up within 15-20 feet before it headed into the bushes

Tomorrow still looks like the day to plan our long ride. Temps should reach to low 70's. Should be a perfect day.

Drivin' down to Asheville

2008-05-12T09:42:00.011-04:00

Heavy rain in Kentucky

We hit the road yesterday morning around 7:30. The rain began just as we were loading up the cars and continued almost until we hit North Carolina. The picture above was taken somewhere in Kentucky and the rain was coming down hard and visibility was limited to a few hundred feet. We drove Rt. 23 all the way to our destination which allowed us to pass through Chillicothe to see some of the early, soggy TORSV riders slogging back home to Columbus. We saw dozens of cars loaded up with bikes driving back home that morning - I'll bet more riders would have bailed if they had the option. This was the first TOSRV I have missed in several years and it was probably a good one to skip.

Louie ready to take his turn at the wheel

We arrived at our house in the afternoon. Located high in the hills overlooking Asheville, the views of the city are pretty spectacular. We chilled out for a bit and after watching the Giro on Versus Mark, Mel, Andy and I took a short spin along the road leading from our house to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The awesome views and beautiful scenery were just as I remembered. After returning to the house we got cleaned up and headed out to dinner at a noodle house that has become our traditional first night meal.

Watching the Giro after arriving at the house

I called Mom last night to wish her a happy Mother's Day and she told me there were tornado warnings in Columbus. Andy spoke with his mom last night and it sounds like a tornado may have been sighted near his family's home. I also checked e-mail to learn that Tym cancelled/postponed yesterday's Granville race. When I think of how nasty the weather was when we raced this course in '06 (cold temps & heavy rain complete with cow dung elixir spraying up off the roads) it makes me wonder how much more lousy yesterday's weather had to be? Just a few more reasons to love Ohio weather in the Spring.

An awesome view of Asheville from my room

Today's weather in Asheville is cool and windy with a chance of showers. After Louie the Wonder Lab gets his morning constitution, we are going to head out to visit a few bike shops and then go for a ride this afternoon. Tuesday's weather looks to be the best of the week so we are going to plan on this being our long day on the saddle.

Road Trip!

2008-05-10T07:26:00.004-04:00

No racing for me this weekend. Early tomorrow morning I'm heading off to North Carolina with M & M, the Talented Young Andy and Louie the wonder lab. The 5 of us will be spending the week in Asheville riding the Blue Ridge Parkway by day and sampling Asheville's micro breweries by night (actually Louie will probably not be riding or visiting the brew pubs). Later in the week Marco and I will be heading over to Boone to spend a few days riding with some of our teammates who are headed down separately for a long weekend.

Right now the weather forecast for the area looks a bit spotty with a chance of rain several days. I'm hopeful that the wet stuff will blow through and we will have plenty of time to ride.

I'll try to check in to this blog with updates on our riding as the week progresses.

Wilkesville Road Race

2008-05-04T17:17:00.011-04:00

This was my second time racing at Wilkesville. The first time was in 2003 during my first year riding with Team Breakaway. I'll always remember this first race for 2 reasons: 1) our teammate Paul Aisel (shown here in Tri-Tech attire) dominated the Pro-2-3 race and won with a very strong performance and 2) Brother Jeff Jackson (aka "Jax" & "Mr. Chips") and I rode down to the race together in his old black Civic hatchback. Jeff and I go way back to our KA cycling days and it was fun road tripping with him to a race. I seem to remember the drive home from Wilkesville taking 4 hours because Jeff and I were both so toasted after the race. In reality I'm sure it only took the normal 2 hours.

Today I was flying solo without my Masters wing men since they decided to head south and dish out some pain in the OVR race. Tym combined the Ladies and the Masters fields. I can't remember the names of all the riders in our group but it included the Mighty Scott Young (just back from Georgia and riding strong!), David Berman from Team Louisville and Marjorie Parr (strong, smooth climber!) from Stark Velo. Our group raced really well together and everyone did their share of work at the front. There were a few jumps on the climbs that eventually thinned our group down to 4 riders and our group stayed together until the end. About 3 miles or so from the finish Scott accelerated off the front and the rest of us had to dig deep to get back on his wheel. Coming into town Scott launched a sprint off the front and I was able to come around him at the finish.

After our race the town of Wilkesville put on a pasta dinner which was free for all the racers. Dinner included pasta, sauce, breadsticks, salad, drinks and homemade desserts. The support Wilkesville provides for this race is outstanding and Tym did an awsome job with the course and the support. Each field of racers had a motorcycle to lead them through the race and every major corner was marshalled. Not only is Wilkesville an epic course with tons of challenging climbs, it is also one of the best supported races I have ever been in. Riders came from Kentucky and West Virginia to race at Wilkesville today. In the past the fields have been larger and I really hope more Ohio riders return next year to this classic Ohio road race.

Southern Hospitality

2008-05-01T19:46:00.004-04:00

Had a road trip to the Carolina's for work this week. When I left home Tuesday morning it was 38 degrees and raining. I arrived in Spartanburg, SC around 3:30 and it was sunny with temps in the low 60's. After checking in at my hotel I drove the Bikeways SC shop in Boiling Springs for a group ride I found on the Spartanburg Freewheeler's website. There were about 9 guys there and we had a really nice ride. The terrain was fairly flat. The pace wasn't as intense as our Tuesday night roll: rides, but we rode at a nice clip and we averaged around 20 mph for the 2 hour ride. Everyone went out of their way to make me feel welcome and I really had a nice time. You could tell these guys ride together frequently - we were in a revolving pace line the entire night and it was pretty smooth.

Last night I was in Goldsboro, NC and did not have an opportunity to ride.

Tonight I rolled into Durham, NC and was not able to hook up on any group rides. However, I checked out ncbikeclub.org and found Blue Jay Park outside of Raleigh which, based on all the multi-colored Dan Henry arrows at all the intersections, seems to be a very popular cycling area. I was able to get on the bike around 5:30 for about 1.5 hours and rode at a pretty easy pace. The roads were smooth and the traffic was light. The terrain was hillier than Tuesday and it felt good to do a bit of easy climbing. The weather was great with temps around 80 degrees.

Tomorrow I have an early morning meeting and then it is back on the road for Ohio.

Tour of Perry County

2008-04-26T18:35:00.011-04:00

Rolling into Somerset around noon there were strong winds and light rain falling. Temps were in the mid to upper 60's and I had a few painful flashbacks to last Saturday's painfest in Zanesfield. Teamroll: was well represented again this week with Marco, the talented young Andy (aka "kiltman"), Dan Tinderholt, Luca Braci (Dave C.), Josh Morrow, Mike Matrka,Farmer John and Cadillac George Conti. Andy also had a friend with him from Weslyan. Almost everyone from our team was sporting their new teamroll: kits and we received lots of compliments - Yes, they look that good!!!

After signing up and then sitting in the car waiting for the rain to die down, I mustered the stones to get out in the rain and get dressed. A group of us rolled out and hit the hills for a warm up ride and you could tell from the terrain that we were in for a tough, hilly day on the saddle.

Marco was sporting his sweeeet new shiny Kuota today and Cadillac George crossed over to the dark side with Marco, Andy and me and was riding his new compact crankset. There were probably around 30 or so riders overall so Tym started all the groups together. Fortunately as the race began the rain stopped and the sun came out. A few folks probably thought I was nuts putting on sunblock in the rain before the race began, but it was nice to have the protection after the sun came out. This was an epic course with lots of climbing. We had constant rollers and approximately 3-4 (maybe 5?) significant climbs per lap. The group stayed together until the climbing got tough and then everything broke up by category: the 2-3's were first off the front followed by the 3-4/masters and then the 4-5's. About halfway through the race I found myself in a group with Mitch Tallan from Torelli and the two leading 4-5 riders who were teammates from from West Virginia. Since we were from different categories and didn't threaten each other's positions, the 4 of us worked well together for the remainder of the race. There was a fairly tough climb up to the finish and I was able to cross the finish in 1st spot for the Masters.

Great weather, a beautiful course and a nice sized group to race with all contributed to a pretty nice day. Tym put together an awesome race today with plenty of police support at all the major intersections. Anyone who didn't come out to race Perry County today missed one of the nicest, most challenging courses on this season's race calender.

This should be a nice tuneup for next week's race in Wilkesville which is arguably the grandaddy of the season!

Planes, Bikes and Automobiles

2008-04-25T18:15:00.015-04:00

What a week!

On Tuesday night I rode in our club’s weekly pain fest. This week I tried to ride a bit more conservatively and limit my time at the front of the group. As a result I was able to hang with the leaders until the finish in Delaware (sans the talented young Andy and Farmer John who dropped the hammer a few miles from home and finished about 30 seconds ahead of us). Our ride finished up sometime around 8:30 and I quickly changed clothes at Marco’s pad and then drove home. After getting home that night around 9:30 I quickly threw some things in my travel bag to be ready for my trip the Dallas the following day. Then it was off to bed.

The next morning I was up at 4:30 to get ready for my 7:00 flight to Dallas. Flying Delta, I had a connecting flight in Cincinnati and arrived in Dallas around 11:00. I picked up my rental car and headed for San Antonio to visit a potential new customer. My Dallas flight was already confirmed though Travelocity when my manager asked me if I would have time to visit a potential new customer in San Antonio. “Sure” I replied – anything for you boss! The only way to make this meeting would be to drive from Dallas to San Antonio. My Google directions listed the drive time at 4 hours 50 minutes and the company I was to visit locked their doors at 4:30. Everything would need to go like clockwork to make my meeting on time.

I hopped on the highway and headed south for sunny San Antonio – passing through Waco, Temple, Austin (no, I didn’t see Lance) and other towns along the way. The only thing to listen to on the radio was country & western (yes – they have “both kinds” of music in Texas), Latino & evangelical. There was also quite a bit of news about that Texas polygamist church – boy did I miss my XM! There were lots of billboards for BBQ, snake farms and something called the “Inner Space” park which showed pictures of dinosaurs and wooly mammoths. If only I had more time for sightseeing. I won’t say how fast I drove but I knocked over 30 minutes off the estimated travel time and arrived at my destination around 3:30. We had a good meeting and I was back on the road shortly after 5:00.

Feeling good about my successful meeting I hopped back on the highway and headed north toward Dallas. About 30 miles north of Waco the clouds rolled in and lightning began to brighten the sky – I’m talking about those bright, thick lightning bolts that cause the hair on your arms to stand up. As darkness fell the winds kicked up and hail began to come down. When I saw the hail I was a bit worried and increased my speed to try and beat the storm. About 30 minutes south of Dallas I lost my race against Mother Nature and the skies opened up. The rain fell so hard that flash flooding occurred on the highway and visibility was probably less than 50 feet. After a few minutes of blindly hydroplaning along the road I pulled off and waited for the rain to die down. Listening to the radio I learned there were tornado sightings in parts of Dallas and a few parts of the city were without electricity. After about 15 minutes the rain was still coming down pretty hard but I got back on the road and was anxious to reach my hotel.

Driving around Dallas at night in a heavy rainstorm it took longer than expected to find my hotel. I finally was in my room a little after 11:00 pm Dallas time. To say I was exhausted would be an understatement. My bike ride from the night before, the plane flight and the last 9 hours of driving through Texas had all caught up with me and I was asleep in no time.

I awoke Thursday morning at 6:00 and still felt pretty tired. I showered, got dressed and grabbed a quick bite for breakfast. There were 2 customers to visit this day and both meetings went well. I finished up around 4:00 and once back in my room I fell asleep watching TV. I awoke around 6:00 and called home to check in. By 9:00 I was asleep for the night.

Friday morning I was up around 6:30 and felt pretty well rested. I got ready and headed to the airport and hoped to book an earlier flight home. No earlier flights were available so here I am in the airport writing this blog as I wait for my 11:30 flight. It is non-stop and should get me home around 2:30.

Checking the Saturday weather for Columbus it looks like rain and temperatures in the mid 60’s. After getting limited sleep and very little time on the bike this week I would expect my race performance on Saturday to be average at best if the weather is nice. But if it rains tomorrow I fear a repeat of last week’s death march in Zanesfield.

A week like this past one causes me to question my decision to try and fit a season of racing into my hectic schedule. Right now the carrot being dangled in front of me is to fit in 2 more races before my upcoming cycling vacation to North Carolina in a few weeks. This annual trip is always lots of fun and I’m hopeful that I’ll return refreshed and ready to finish up my season.

Zanesfield Road Race

2008-04-19T18:29:00.008-04:00

Today's race was one of the toughest days I've had on the saddle in a long, long time. I arrived at the park in Zanesfield under sunny skies and figured that maybe the 70% forecast for rain might end up being wrong. I signed in, coated my exposed flesh with SPF 30, got dressed and started off on a 30 minute warm up ride. After finishing my warm up there were only about 10 minutes left until the start of the race.

Today's route was originally laid out to include Corkscrew Hill which is near the Mad River Mountain ski area. I was looking forward to this part of the course since I haven't been climbing too bad this season. As it turned out, the course was changed and this climb wasn't part of the course. We ended up racing 4 laps on a fairly flat course and the Masters were combined with the 2/3/4's.

My Masters compatriots, Cadillac George, Marco and Luca Brasi (Dave Chambers) did not attend today. I think they demonstrated superior intelligence and chose a good race to skip.

So, promptly at 1:30 the referee called the 2/3/4/masters to the line. With timing that could not have been better orchestrated by a Hollywood director, the sky darkened and thunder rattled in the sky. Sure glad I was wearing that sunblock. A few miles into the race the rain started to fall and it ended up coming down hard the entire race. There was a fairly steep, fast decent coming into Zanesfield and by the time we hit it my visibility was limited, I was soaked to the bone and chilled to the point my whole body was shaking. I hung with the group two times down the descent but lost contact the third time down. Once the course leveled out I buried myself to bridge up but burned lots of matches getting back on. When the inevitable attack took place I was off the back and time trialed my way home on the final lap. I was pretty cold and all I could think about was getting to the end of the race. I crossed the line in 4th place for the Masters.

Fortunately everyone stayed upright today - but this is pretty close to how hard it rained on us. Maybe if I had an umbrella with me...

Fortunately the rain was reduced to a light drizzle as I limped back to the car to change out of my kit (my calves were so cramped that walking was a major effort). With limited use of my fingers I used my teeth to pull off my gloves and then managed to shed the rest of my wet gear. I got into dry clothes, started the car (I had to use 2 hands to turn the key and start the car), turned the heat on high and rolled home.

Tym raced with us today and after we finished he told me he had speed wobbles on the descent and kept control of his bike by squeezing his legs against the top tube. I'll have to remember that the next time I find myself racing in these rainy conditions.

Deciding how I raced today depends on whether you look at the glass as half full or half empty. Each time around the course there were a few (smart) riders who called it a day and dropped out as we passed the start/finish line. So I guess I should be happy I finished and that my result was where it was. I probably would have dropped out myself but I needed the series points.

Joining me today were teammates Josh Morrow, Farmer John Price and Dan Tinderholt. Congratulations to John who has found his form on the bike and had a much better day than me by winning the 3/4 race - way to go John!!! Josh and Dan were winners as well for racing and battling today's elements.

Next week's race is in Somerset and all points are doubled since the course is so difficult - I can't wait.

Paris Roubaix

2008-04-14T19:06:00.003-04:00

Wow, did you see Paris Roubaix last night on Versus? Well, neither did I. Some Versus exec in their infinite wisdon decided tennis was more important than the greatest spring classic of them all.

Regardless, Tom Boonen proved the odds makers correct and won in a convincing manner - shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. I'm sure it will still be exciting to watch the replay on Versus when they find room in their schedule between bull riding and cage fighting.

Deer Creek Road Race

2008-04-12T17:34:00.006-04:00

For reasons I won't elaborate on in this post, it was a frustrating race for me at Deer Creek today. There were gusting winds and lots of cat and mouse throughout the Masters race. In the end it came down to a 2-man sprint in which I finished 2nd by about a bike length. Good news is my sprint is improving each week. Bad news is it needs to improve some more.

Marco and Cadillac George worked hard for our team keeping things together and close until the end. Sorry I let you guys down today. Tactics continue to play and interesting part in this series and I'm sure we will have things dialed in within the next few weeks.

Yellow Springs Road Race

2008-04-05T18:07:00.008-04:00

Today Marco, Luca Brasi (Dave Chambers) and I lined up for the Masters race in Yellow Springs. Conspicuously absent today was Cadillac George who was in Michigan living La Vida Loco at a wedding (George, is champagne part of your training plan?). We had a great day for racing with sunny skies and temps in the low 50's. It was nice to only need knee and arm warmers today.

First time up the "Devil's backbone" climb I found myself unexpectedly in an early break with another rider and we rode together for about 5-6 miles. This guy was F-A-S-T and I wasn't able to stay with him. He rode away and was never seen again. After spending a few miles in no man's land I was able to join up with Marco, Dave, Scott Young and Rick Toler who had gotten away from the rest of the field. The 5 of us worked together and stayed away the rest of the race.

After 4 times up the climb we rolled into the finish at Yellow Springs and I knew Rick was going to be the guy to watch after seeing his sprint earlier this year at the Arnold Classic race. I tried to pay attention and mark Rick as we rolled into town but he was faster than me I ended up finishing 2nd in the sprint and 3rd in the race.

All in all it was a good day. I hated falling off the initial break but I felt I was riding as well as could be expected. As long as I learn something from each race I hope to be OK as the season progresses.

After the race I rolled back to the car and was pleasantly surprised to see former teammate and all around good guy Dan Rhule with a pan of his famous "Rhule Bars". Awesome!!! Hey Dan - when are you going to start marketing those bars? By the way, Dan was sporting his new super sweet sub-16 pound Bianchi today - very nice!!!

Kudos to our teammate Pascale who won her race today!

Next week - Deer Creek.

Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Gallery

2008-04-04T05:49:00.012-04:00

My friend Amy forwarded this cycling comic strip to me. Check it out - Pretty cool stuff! The strip is free, but the author accepts donations from frequent viewers looking to enhance their good karma.

(weblink:)Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Gallery

Malabar road race - Game on (Finally)!

2008-03-30T08:42:00.004-04:00

After a month-long break from racing due to Ohio's notorious wet and snowy weather, Saturday's sunny weather allowed the Malabar race to take place without a hitch. The temperature hovered around 40 degrees at the start of the race and as usual, the winds were pretty strong all day. Teamroll: was well represented with roughly 10 riders lining up in the various races.

Mark LaYacona, George Conti, Marco Corroto, Woody Barry and me were in the Masters race and the field was the largest we have seen this season. The traditional hill top finish was changed to a flat sprint finish near the start area.

Our field stayed together for the first lap. After the 2nd time up the big hill a moment of indecision by the field allowed a Torelli rider to establish a pretty large gap off the front. Fearing that this gap would stay away a few of us began taking turns working to pull it back and this created a break of about 5 riders that would end up staying away the rest of the race. The work paid off and we caught the break on the flat section a few miles from the finish area.

The final time up the climb another Torelli rider made a perfectly timed attack and both Torelli riders were away and would not be caught. I jumped and worked hard for a few miles to catch the two riders but just didn't have the horsepower today to make it happen. Their attack was a text book move in my book. In hindsight I may have been able to stay with the attack if I had reacted to it more quickly. I finished 3rd which was my best result at Malabar.

No race again this weekend

2008-03-21T18:26:00.003-04:00

Same old story for the 4th week in a row - no race this weekend. Today is Good Friday and from a weather standpoint I would actually call it "Great Friday". The temp peaked out around 50 degrees at my place with beautiful sunny and skies and not a cloud to be seen in the sky.

Despite today's spring-like weather the forecast for tomorrow is a rain/snow mix with temperatures in the 30's. If the weather plays out according to forecast then postponing the race was the right thing to do since the roads in the Hocking Hills are no fun when they are slick.

Not much more to say other than I hope things finally turn around by next weekend...

Breaking Training (Kind of)

2008-03-18T19:27:00.006-04:00

Every year in March I get together with a group of friends from my college days for a weekend getaway to the Hocking Hills. As we get older and many of us have ever increasing responsibilities it becomes harder for our group to spend time together and catch up. But this annual weekend is so much fun that everyone tries hard to clear their schedule for this annual getaway.

Our destination each March is Fox Glove Lodge located near Old Man's Cave. The cabin is beautiful and has a fireplace, hot tub, satellite TV, pool table and nearly any other amenity one could want. One of my friends even brought a DJ setup to mix music each night and it was a big hit with our group (he also brought along a fog machine which was pretty cool until it set off the smoke alarm and had to be turned off). Combine this with plenty of adult beverages and copious quantities of great food and you have the makings of a fun weekend.

Since the Hocking Hills is also a great area for cycling I brought my bike with me and was able spend a couple hours in the saddle riding hills on Saturday. Since next weekend's race is the Tour of Hocking Hills I was interested in checking out the roads and I must say I hope the rain in the forecast cleans them up this week. The roads I climbed included Revenge, Jack Run, Stump Hollow and Snortin Ridge. The cinders and sand on Stump Hollow were ground into a wet greasy paste and I lost traction on the ascent. I had to get off my bike before reaching the top. The trip down the other side was pretty dicey and I spent a lot of time on the brakes. Jack Run was a bit cleaner which is good since this may be part of our race course on Saturday. Road condition could be a factor in this race.

After coming home Sunday morning I was able to make it to Alum Creek for our club ride at 1:00. Despite indulging myself over the weekend I was able to spend some quality time on the bike both days. Hopefully I can have a good training week and be ready to suffer this coming weekend.

teamroll: weekly ride season kicks off at Beehive Books

2008-03-13T22:16:00.012-04:00

Some of the early arrivals at tonight's season kickoff ride at Beehive Books (below):

Fortunately the rain that was originally forecast for today held off and we were able to kickoff Teamroll:'s weeknight ride season at Beehive Books in Delaware. Our group of 12 riders hit the road promptly at 6:00 and we ended up riding close to 25 miles before dusk forced us back to the hive.

Tonight's weather was awesome and the temperature was close to 60 degrees as we rolled out of the parking lot. It's hard to believe that one week ago everyone was bracing for a blizzard. That's Springtime in Ohio.

Unlike Tuesday night's hammerfests, the Thursday night rides are typically ridden at a social pace but tonight's average was just a click under 20 mph. This was probably due to the group's "spring fever" and the fact that many of us were riding together for the first time this season. It also didn't hurt to have strongmen like Cadillac George, Pantani, Dave Chambers and the talented young Andy Will up front pulling the train. Upcoming Thursday night rides will be less brisk than tonight.

Hopefully tonight's ride is a sure sign that spring is on the way. These weeknight rides are a nice opportunity to get out on the road and meet fellow club members. It will be great to see larger swarms of riders in the upcoming weeks.

Ten Points

2008-03-11T21:55:00.003-04:00

I recently finished reading Ten Points by Bill Strickland. Bill is the executive editor of Bicycling Magazine and this book is the story of his pursuit to score 10 points in a weekly racing series in his Pennsylvania hometown.

Bill writes about the sacrifice and training required to hang with the pack and those of us who are fellow cyclists can relate to his story and appreciate his experiences. The images he shares of racing in the thick of the pack and working to hold a wheel during these weekly criterium races are very vivid and I could almost feel my heart rate increase as I turned each page.

Cycling is only half the story of this book. Bill uses his racing experience to try and overcome some disturbing demons of abuse that he endured as a child and a few of the memories he shares are a bit disturbing at times. After finishing this book I felt even more grateful for the normal family and happy home I was blessed with as a kid.

Anyone who has ever tried their hand at bike racing will relate to Bill's struggles, defeats and accomplishments. An easy read, I would recommend this book to my fellow cycling friends. I'm sure you can pick up a copy at Beehive Books in Delaware.

Blizzard of 2008

2008-03-08T10:58:00.020-05:00

For Sale: 2004 Giant TCR. Full Carbon w/ Dura Ace. Good condition. May be willing to trade for a sled, cross country skis or snow shoes.

No I'm not selling my bike (no calls please) but the thought entered my mind while digging out from last night's White Death. With all the unseasonal heavy snow we continue to see, outdoor road riding has been drastically curtailed. Kinda makes me wonder if the 'ole road bike will see any action this season. I'll have to give our local weather guys credit, it looks like their forecast was right on. 12" of snow fell at my house and after shoveling last night and again this morning a nap may be needed before jumping on the trainer to start today's AT intervals.

Everyone in our club has been eagerly awaiting tonight's time change as we prepare to "spring ahead" and begin our weekly club rides from Beehive Books on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Right now it is hard to imagine we will be riding outside next week since the snow now on the roads is likely to stay with us for awhile.

Needless to say it is highly unusual to see this kind of snow fall in March and this is probably one of the heaviest snowfalls we have seen since the "Big One" - the Blizzard of '78. I was a young pup at that time and remember being snowed in the house with my family for several days. This was back before cable TV (at least for our family), the VCR or internet so it was a challenge for us to entertain ourselves. To make matters worse we were in the throws of an energy crisis and Jimmy Carter asked everyone to keep our thermostats turned way down. Schools and some businesses were closed for an extended period of time adding to the feeling of cabin fever.

One option for getting out and enjoying all the snow we received this weekend is to do some cross country skiing at High Banks Metro Park located north of Columbus off of Rt. 23. I may have to give this a go tomorrow afternoon when the roads will hopefully be cleared off enough for safe driving. It would be great to spend some non-shoveling time outside.

Come on Spring! Were ready for you.

White Death

2008-03-07T07:28:00.006-05:00

Shut 'er down Baby! It's Friday morning. The roads are clear and the temp is 34 degrees. All the snow has melted from my yard and driveway. However, Tym cancelled tomorrow's race (for the 3rd consecutive week!) and most area schools are already scheduled for early dismissal this afternoon.

The reason for these actions? The approach of the White Death. The snow storm of the century that is expected to bring things to a standstill here in Central Ohio. Unbelievable.

Time will tell if we get hit with the predicted snowfall which could hit double digits by tomorrow. For now it looks like yet another weekend spent grinding away on the indoor trainer.

Arnold Classic Bike Race

2008-03-02T19:22:00.017-05:00

On Thursday evening I came home from work and was disappointed to learn that Saturday's race at the Mid-Ohio sports car course had been postponed due to snow (the 2nd race postponement in as many weeks). Apparently racetracks do not fall under ODOT's snow plow responsibilities. I've never raced well at Mid-Ohio but I love riding on the course, going full bore through the corners of the silky smooth track. Hopefully Mid-Ohio will take place later this season.

One race option remained for the weekend - the inaugural Arnold Classic criterium on Sunday. I wasn't too excited about being in a criterium this early in the season but I decided at the last minute to give the race a go. Teammates Woody Barry, "Iron" Cadillac George Conti and I represented our team in the Masters race. Arnold himself was at the start, posse in tow, as the official starter of our race and it was pretty cool to see him make an appearance.

The masters started a minute or so after the 3-4's and our group stayed together for a few laps until 5-6 of us created a gap. One rider from Kreitler made a move off the front and we worked to pull him back. A few laps later another rider (Allied Decal?) attacked off the front and would stay away the rest of the race for a solo victory. That left the rest of us racing for 2nd place. About halfway through the race I felt myself starting to come off the back of the group but was able to work back onto a wheel.

Iron George (shown in photo below courtesy of Mike Perakis) was an animal today doing far more than his share of work pulling at the front. I'm not sure what he had for breakfast but I'll take two please. After about 40 minutes we heard "2 laps to go" and our group of 4 stayed together until the finish. Krietler and an Anthem rider had a bit more horsepower and crossed the line for 2nd & 3rd. I crossed the line with George to finish 4th and were both in the money. Not a bad days work but it became painfully clear to me that I have a lot more work to do as the season progresses.

Overall Team roll: was well represented today with Mike Perakis in the 4-5 race and both Josh Morrow and John Price mixing it up in the huge 3-4 field. Andy Will raced well in the 1-2-3 race. We even had cheerleaders today: Mel Corroto, Amanda Orr, Amy Reese and Eva Simon. Along with Tom Will, Marco was there coaching us on and resting his legs so he can kick some serious butt next weekend.

There's no way 3 races in a row can be snowed out - is there?

Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa

2008-02-27T20:26:00.005-05:00

I guess this should have been expected at some point. That chink in the armor that can cause one to realize he is not the uber training machine he would like to be. So just what, brothers and sisters, has caused such great remorse? None other than the dreaded missed training day.

Looking back over my diary I have logged roughly 120 hours since my training began in December. This is less time on the saddle than a number of riders have this time of year, but it is a pretty decent number for me at this point in the season. Due to the terrible weather we have had this winter only approximately 20 of these hours were outside on the road. This means I have spent 100 hours on the trainer in my living room sweating away to videos of classic bike races from Europe, Australia and the good 'ole U.S. of A.

I have a video of Johan Museeuw's victory in the 2002 Paris Roubaix (which I've watched more than a few times this winter). During the commentary in this race Phil Liggett states that Museeuw would ride the trainer as many as 6 hours a day to help get himself in top form for the Spring Classics. Johan's dedication to training is especially impressive to anyone who has tried to log in more than a few hours on the trainer at any one time.

Anyway, back to today's missed training session. I could site a few excuses for missing my training tonight such as the 1 1/2 hours it took me to commute through snow to my out of town job this morning and the resulting delay in leaving work that caused me to arrive home at almost 8:00 pm. But in reality I was just mentally cooked and didn't have the energy to climb on the bike. This is the time of year when Spring is so close we can taste it and the desire to get out on the road is overwhelming. However, this is also the time of year when burnout can be a problem. Some nights I literally feel like that proverbial hamster on a wheel and 100% of my limited mental fortitude is required to crank out a few indoor trainer hours.

There is arguably some degree of obsessive compulsive tendencies required to pursue bike racing. Why else would someone spend hours and hours inside on the trainer and then fret over one missed training day? This mystery is probably best left to greater minds than mine to sort out. My time is better spent psyching myself up to get on the bike tomorrow and make up for the time I missed tonight. Besides I have a race to get ready for this weekend. Unless the race is cancelled again due to snow. Then I'll need to spend that day cranking out a few hours of intervals on the trainer...

Don't call me dude!

2008-02-25T17:56:00.006-05:00

"This aggression will not stand, man" - The Big Lebowski.

This video speaks for itself...

Race day? No way!

2008-02-23T10:11:00.011-05:00

Well, this was planned to be my first race report of the season. However, Mother Nature had other ideas in mind and today's Tour of Pickaway County race has been postponed due to inclement weather. With one race under our belt Team Roll: was looking forward to hitting the road again today.

Our next scheduled race is Mid Ohio which will take place next Saturday at the classic sports car track in Lexington, Ohio.

I guess it will be another week on the trainer for me. At least I have a copy of the Tour Down Under DVD loaned to me by my teammate and all around good guy Marco to help the hours pass.

Andy Hampsten didn't let a little snow slow him down when he won the Tour of Italy in 1988!

Old School - Winning Bicycle Racing Illustrated

2008-02-21T20:24:00.029-05:00

I originally became interested in cycling while attending Ohio State in the mid-eighties. During this time I came across an issue of Winning Bicycle Racing Illustrated at a bookstore and after looking through the glossy pages filled with the latest bikes, equipment and racing news I was hooked. I first subscribed to the magazine in 1985 and kept it going through 1991.

A few months ago I was going through some old boxes in my attic and found all 7 years of these magazines. Looking through some of these old classic magazines I realize that a great deal of cycling history and innovation took place during this period of time. Some of these innovations include the development of clipless pedals, composite frames and the brake lever shifters all of us now take for granted. During this same period an American cyclist from Minnesota named Greg Lemond made history by winning 3 Tours de France from 1986 to 1990. All this and more is captured in this old musty stack of magazines.

In the May '91 issue that features Phil Anderson on the cover wearing his Motorola kit, there is an article about a 19 year old Texan racing as an amateur on the Subaru Montgomery race team. As I'm sure you have guessed, this rider was Lance Armstrong. Lance was quoted in the interview as saying "I want to go to the (Barcelona) Olympics in 1992, then turn professional and race in Europe". Needless to say Lance made good on his dreams and made cycling history. The July '91 issue features an article about a promising 17 year old junior cyclist named George Hincapie who raced for the G.S. Mengoni amateur team. This same issue included an article about Johan Bruyneel who was racing for Lotto and was predicted to be Belgium's best finisher in the upcoming Tour de France.

Watch for monthly "Old School" posts that will feature pictures and other tidbits from these classic magazines.

Nice Hair Lance!

Show me the money!

2008-02-20T21:43:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to former OSU basketball coach Jim Obrien! Today the Ohio Supreme Court declined The Ohio State University's appeal of Jimbo's $2.2 million dollar wrongful termination award. Jim is happy, the university is dissapointed and everyone can now get on with their lives.

Don't get me wrong, Jim made a mistake when he gave $6000.00 to a player and some disciplinary action was in order. But the university made a knee-jerk reaction and terminated Jim Obrien before taking all the proper steps. I can't help but be happy for the underdog in this case. Too bad it took so long to end.

I wonder if Jim would be interested in sponsoring a local bike racing team with some of his new found green?