Climbing

What is it about climbing the big mountains that's so attractive to cyclists? Apart from the trite 'because they are there' response it must offer rewards in a number of ways.

The challenge and hopefully the conquering of that challenge? The view from the top? The thrill of the run back downhill? You are too slow to sprint to the front but you can still lead up the climb?

The memorable moments on nearly all the Grand Tours and some of the one day Classics are the big climbs. It's where the multi day races are often won or lost.

Maybe we are all just masochists at heart.

Rules of cycling

Cycling rules and etiquette are very strong amongst road riders and seldom (until now anyway) written down. You just 'have to know'.

Lew has kindly forwarded this list from Velominati on to help us all....

Pretty much required reading I would think.

Especially Rule 27 and 51.I failed about half.

http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/

Thanks Lew.

Jens Loves Schlecks

Taken from Velonation:

From the outside, the transfer of Jens Voigt to the Luxembourg project for 2011 was seemingly a simple one - in a brief conversation with Danish television station TV2, reported on by Cyclism'Actu, Voigt reveals that the move wasn't quite so simple.Seven years of racing for Bjarne Riis isn't something that one throws away in a whimsical moment, and Voigt was not eager to run away so quickly.

When he took a step back though and took a closer look at where his friends were going and for whom he wanted to lend his substantial power to, the move became a necessary one."When it became obvious that [the Schlecks] were going to leave the team, they asked me where I wanted to go. I thought, I want to race with them. We were so close to winning the Tour with Andy, and I would get another chance to win the race with Andy and Frank."

The popular hardman admits, however, that had the decision not already been made, he might have reconsidered once the news of Contador's clenbuterol positive broke. "When I made my decision, everything was good. The sponsors were in place and Contador was on the way. I must say that became more complicated recently, and I thought I had to go back to Saxo Bank and help them, but I already made my decision."With or without Contador, Voigt's decision had been made, and it was made all along with the idea of helping the Schleck brothers to the top step of the Tour de France podium next July.

The rider, who will turn 40 at the end of the 2011 season, chose to stay close to the riders that he's close to - and why not - at 39 years old, Voigt has achieved much, but the opportunity to bring either Andy or Frank to the overall win at the Tour de France after years of sacrifice and struggle together…how could he turn that down?"I prefer working with the Schleck brothers, because they are good friends, and I would not have to work for Contador [against the Schlecks]."

The full details, including the name of the Luxembourg team, have not been disclosed as of yet, but the big announcement is set to come out very soon.

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6138/Jens-Voigt-did-not-want-to-race-against-the-Schlecks.aspx#ixzz13QQVWaHp

Giro d'Italia 2011

The Giro has done it again.

What sort of race runs 3.5 thousand kilometres over 3 weeks, and takes in 14 mountain stages, including 8 with mountain top finishes? The Giro d'Italia of course.

There are only 4 flat stages for the sprinters, 45 Km of Individual Time Trial and a 21Km Team Time Trial. Hardly worth packing the TT bike.

The big hills include Mt Etna (twice!), Monte Zoncolon, Passo Giau, (the Cima Coppi of the Tour) and then possibly the decider on Colle della Finestre. And of couse it wouldn't be a modern Giro without a bit of dirt...so the roads around Sestriere offer the challenge again.

To read more:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-2011-route-unveiled-in-turin-2

Jens jumps ship too...

It hard not to feel a little sorry for Bjarne. First he looses the Schleck Bros, then Stewie O'Grady, then Spartacus, and now Jens 'Shut up Legs' Voigt is making the move to the so called Luxembourg Project. How good is that (yet to be named) team travelling???

And what does Bjarne have to replace all this talent? A suspended rider that may yet have this year's Tour win stripped from him.

As I said...hard not to feel a little sorry for the man.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-project-signs-voigt

Tour de France 2011

The route for next year's TdF has been released and it's obviously designed so that only a serious climber will be the winner. Only one Individual Time Trail (41km), and an unbelievably short Team Time Trial (23km) on day two. Even the Eastlink Ride is a 75km team Time Time Trail.

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A lot of the favourite climbs are there of course...

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The Pyrenees starts things off with Luz Ardiden followed by the Plateau de Beille and then Col du Galibier. This is the first time it's been used as a mountain top finish ever (one of four in this years Tour!).

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The Alps then offer up such luminaries as the Col du Telegraphe, Galibier and of course another mountain top finish up l'Alpe d'Huez. Phew. Could be a few late nights coming up next July.

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The stages: (mountain stages in red, and * mountain-top finish)

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July 2, stage 1: Passage du Gois-Mont des Alouettes, 191km

July 3, stage 2: Les Essarts-Les Essarts, TTT, 23km

July 4, stage 3: Olonne-sur-Mer-Redon, 198km

July 5, stage 4: Lorient-Mûr-de-Bretagne, 172km

July 6, stage 5: Carhaix-Cap Fréhel, 158km

July 7, stage 6: Dinan-Lisieux, 226km

July 8, stage 7: Le Mans-Châteauroux, 215km

July 9, stage 8: Aigurande-Super Besse Sancy, 190km

July 10, stage 9: Issoire-St-Flour, 208km

July 11, rest day
July 12, stage 10: Aurillac-Carmaux, 161km

July 13, stage 11: Blaye-les-Mines-Lavaur, 168km

July 14, stage 12: Cugnaux-Luz Ardiden, 209km*
July 15, stage 13: Pau-Lourdes, 156km

July 16, stage 14: Saint-Gaudens-Plateau de Beille, 168km*
July 17, stage 15: Limous-Montpellier, 187km

July 18, rest day
July 19, stage 16: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux-Gap, 163km

July 20, stage 17: Gap-Pinerolo, 179km

July 21, stage 18: Pinerolo-Galibier/Serre-Chevalier, 189km*

July 22, stage 19: Modane-Alpe d’Huez, 109km*

July 23, stage 20: Grenoble-Grenoble, ITT, 41km

July 24, stage 21: Créteil-Paris/Champs-Elysées, 160km

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Padraig from Red Kite Prayer offers his view at:

http://redkiteprayer.com/?p=3825

Crino Cycles

It's always a thrill to see your local bike shop getting a bit of national exposure...in this case John Dam and Tony Crino from Crino Cycles in Nicholson Street North Carlton.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pegasus-womens-squad-set-for-debut-at-inverell

Kirsty Broun's great win in the women's section of last weekend's Melbourne Warnambool was today's lead cycling story. Crino Cycles put up some sponsorship for the women's event which is fantastic. It's great to see a small shop supporting not just an institution such as the Melbourne Warnambool, but specifically women's cycling.

The boys have always gone out of their way to give service above and beyond what you find in most local bike shops. No job to small or trivial, and a good range of quality gear for sale. Plus they are genuinely nice guys.

www.crinocycles.com.au

End of promotion.

Chasing Legends

There's a film just been released that follows HTC Clombia through the 2009 Tour de France:

http://chasinglegends.com/index.html

To watch the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbv3N-qt2EI&feature=player_embedded

Let's hope it gets a run on the big screen at the Nova.

The greatest cyclist of all...

How do you decide who is the greatest cyclist of the modern era?

Someone who obviously has a lot of time on their hands has set about a measuring criteria of cycling success This involves giving a numerical value to the significance of each Pro race, then a further value to the place achieved by each rider in that race, and even a further value to those that achieved a significant string of victories (eg three Paris Roubaix wins or similar). The processed is even refined enough to make allowances for interruptions such as World War II for riders such as Bartali and Coppi.

It's obviously a massive piece of research but the results are very interesting. Highest ranked rider ever no surprise...Eddy Merckx.

Highest ranked Australian? Not Cadel...yet. But I'll give you a hint...he's still riding.

Read all about it:

http://www.thevirtualmusette.com/

Fuji Feather

A word from Don...

I am pleased to announce a new addition to the family with the arrival my first fixie.

After a drug free and relatively painless 30 minute labour that necessitated the use of stirrups the new baby arrived home at 6.15pm weighing in at 10kgs. Note that while it is not exactly politically correct I have had him circumcised and those unhygienic drop handlebars have been replaced by smoother, cleaner and more attractive flat bars. Owner and bike are both doing well.

Full name: Fuji Feather

Disc Brakes on Road Bikes?

It 's always seemed inevitable to me that one day disc brakes would be standard fixtures on all high end road bikes. After all they just work so much better. Dave Moulton in his blog http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.com/ gives some good points as to why I'm completely wrong...again:

I fail to see the point of a disc brake on a road bike. A conventional caliper brake is a disc brake, with the rim being the disc.

The rim is the largest possible diameter and therefore has the most leverage when the braking force is applied.

With a disc at the hub the braking forces are transmitted through the spokes. What is more the driving stress is in one direction, followed by the braking stress in the opposite direction. Stressing spokes in this manner could possibly lead to breakage or coming loose.

With a normal caliper brake acting on the rim there is little or no stress on the spokes, (Apart from the normal weight bearing stresses.) the stress is directly from the rim to the tire.
A disc brake means you can’t have radial spokes. Not only must there be crossed tangential spokes on the non drive side of the rear wheel, you must also have tangential spokes on the front wheel.

Tangential spokes are longer, therefore more weight; remember also this is spinning weight which is more important. A radial spoke wheel has marginally less wind resistance.
The disc and its caliper has to be heavier than the conventional brake, and more expensive to produce.

I can see an argument for a disc brake on a mountain bike or a cyclo-cross bike, because it would possibly collect less mud than a brake that operates near the tire.
But on a road bike; I just don’t get it.

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Thanks Dave.

iPhone 101....

Merckx and Gimondi texting each other.

Melbourne to Warnambool Classic 2010

The 'other' major cycling event this weekend apart from Around the Bay is of course the world's second oldest continuous bike race...the Melbourne to Warnambool Classic:

http://www.melbournetowarrnambool.com/cyclingclassic/index.php

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For a little bit of background to this year's race CyclingNews today gives a report:

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http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pearson-prepared-for-back-to-back-warrnambool-wins

Ride to Work Day 2010

Yes its the high light of the cycling year, BV's "ride to work" day, tomorrow.

I'll be enjoying the complimentary breakfast (........sweet and savoury muffins, real coffee, juice, fruit) at Velo Cycles at Park/Nicholson St from 8.00am with my fellow greeno/pinko/lefto/commo/homo/lesso/metro/brunso commuters.

So leave the Porsche Cayenne Turbo at home and head on over....hope to see you there.

Cheers, Antoine de Rue de Park

Single speeds rule

The answer of course is....YES!

The Heads of State starting to move up through the clothes rack..

Paul, tell the truth. How big was the suitcase of courage...and why did you eat it?

Last Commonwaelth Games cycling event

This Wednesday (Oct 13) sees the last of the Comm Games cycling events...the Individual Time Trial. The men's course is 40km and the women's is set at 29km. After yesterday's exciting finish for the men's road race and the track cycling generally it could be well worth a look. The pbkblog gives a good background to the main contenders:

The men will race a 40km course, with no Bradley Wiggins or Geraint Thomas. England’s Chris Froome and Scotland’s David Millar are among the Gold medal favourites. Millar who came second in the World Championships time trial last week should certainly be one to watch. Australia will miss Richie Porte, who has been denied permission to ride by Team Saxo-Bank as they require him to race in the Spring Classics in Italy in support of Andy Schleck. New Zealand will be worth keeping an eye on with veteran Gordon McCauley, bronze medallist in the 2006 Commonwealth Games individual time trial and winner of this years Tour of Tasmania, no doubt looking for a strong finish. Canadian National time trial champion Svein Tuft (Team Garmin-Transitions) is also a medal contender, since his silver at the 2008 World Championships time trial he’s been putting in solid performances including a second overall in this years Tour of Denmark.

The Women’s time trial, raced over 29km promises to be hard fought with Emma Pooley (Cervelo Test Team) fresh from her victory in the World Championships Time Trial and riding the wave in a season which has seen her take the British national champions crown from Nicole Cooke. She will have strong competition however in the form of Wendy Houvenaghel and Nicole Cooke who will be out for payback. While Houvenaghel is likely to concentrate more on the track, Cooke certainly will be looking for a strong performance in the time trial to compensate for any disadvantages she may experience in the more team orientate road race in a relatively weak Welsh team. New Zealand’s Linda Villumsen (HTC-Columbia) will be a major hope after her bronze in the 2009 World Championships time trial and a strong finish in the 2010 World Championships in Australia.

One bike + 30 litres of beer = Beer Bike

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Although famous for a love of bicycles as the city's preferred transport, Amsterdam officials are starting to draw the line at a popular "beer bike."

The bike, which can seat at least 10 people around a central "bar" as they pedal through the city center, is a frequent sight in the Dutch capital and is said to be popular with stag and hen (bachelor and bachelorette) parties. A non-drinker steers the bike.

But two accidents involving the bikes since the start of April has prompted the city councilor responsible for transport, Hans Gerson, to investigate how many bikes there are and whether they pose a problem.

"This beer bike is completely legal, but he (Gerson) is not very enthusiastic about this idea of people drinking while being amongst traffic," a spokeswoman said.
But she downplayed the possibility of a ban, stressing the alderman is looking into various options.

Ard Karsten, owner of beerbike.co.uk which rents bikes to tourists, said he was open to talks with the council, adding his company only rents a beer bike out with a driver and has never been involved in an accident.

A compromise could involve the council obligating all firms to supply a driver with the bike, he said.
"We're not out on the street en masse and it's simply controllable. It is about fun and teambuilding," Karsten said. "We have a very beautiful route and people simply enjoy it, but some people ruin it for others."

A spokesman for the Amsterdam city center district, Ton Boon, said the bike was already banned in the red light district and welcomed Gerson's inquiry. "It causes a lot of nuisance."
Amsterdam newspaper Het Parool had reported earlier this week an accident last weekend resulted in various injures, while three women were injured two weeks ago.

"It is an uncontrolled projectile," motorcyclist Karin Wolfs, who was involved in an accident was quoted as saying.

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To read more:

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http://beerbike.co.uk/

Red Hill in a Day

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Ian's suggested route (120kms):

Shorter Route(95kms):

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The short version from Carlton and back is an easy 190kms, the more scenic is the Grand Tour of 215Kms. Highly recommended by Ian and Don.

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Brunch/Lunch: http://www.redhillbaker.com.au/

A major breakthrough in tests for doping?

It's hard to avoid talk of doping as soon as anyone finds out you have even a passing interest in Pro cycling. Padraig from Red Kite Prayer as always has a great insight into cycling related matters. The significance of Alberto Contator's test samples, showing not just the Clenbuterol that everyone's talking about, but the traces of the plasticisers is of huge significance:

http://redkiteprayer.com/?p=3718

Jonathon Vaughters has also weighed in with the obvious point that the previously unknown testing for plasticisers will change the whole doping landscape. Blood transfusions were the only real cycling performance aid that the passport testing couldn't trace...until now it seems:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vaughters-calls-test-for-blood-transfusion-good-news

This has to be good news for the sport. Maybe one day people will be able to talk about Pro cycling and not mention doping in the same breath.

A Mid Week Classic...

The Yan Yean Loop is hard to beat for a 90km (3+ hour) tour of the north. A few hills and lots of rural space. Makes the ride out on Plenty Road worth the effort:

Race Radio: A thing of the past?

One of the contributing factors to the thrilling World Championship race in Geelong has been the enforced absence of race radio between the riders and team cars. This undoubtedly added unpredictability of the race with riders having to make their own call on the road as to whether to chase, try and make a break or simply sit tight.

The usual defense for the radios seems to be one of added safety...riders can be informed of additional road hazards eg oil spills, whatever ahead. This seems a pretty thin argument to me. It really allows the DS power to direct team members to drop back and assist, make a break and chop things up, and generally try to put the pieces on the chess board exactly where they would like them.

I sort of like the old skool blackboard on the back of the motor bike style of communication telling the field what the splits are...but maybe that's just me.

Velonation takes this discussion a bit further:

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5888/Race-Radios-Does-Geelong-world-championship-show-that-less-is-more.aspx

Men's Road Race 2010 Challambra Hill

The Geelong Advertiser gave a good account of yesterday's celebrations on the Challambra hill, obviously well advised by Kew's Philip Curtis:

HIGHTON'S everyday neighbourhood Challambra Cres became the pinnacle of world cycling agony and ecstasy to the delight of thousands of fans yesterday.

The street's unforgiving up-and-up made it heartbreak hill 11 times over for riders at the crest of the acclaimed UCI world cycling championships elite men's course and the name Challambra will long linger, sealed on titles merchandise including T-shirts.

"It will be famous forever," Kew's Philip Curtis smiled as he patted a palm on his vivid yellow Challambra shirt.

"This is the spot to be."
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Mr Curtis brandished his genuine Tour de France issue cap and cowbell as he spoke amid the press of a big and buoyant crowd supporting all nations. At his feet lay the picnic spread prepared by his gourmand mate Steve Hicks.

Gorgonzola, artichoke hearts, sausage, baguettes, Swan Bay pinot and world-best cycling were all on the lip-licking Challambra menu.

Pre-race promotions promised Challambra was the place for purists to watch the race and fans answered the call in immense numbers.
People lined the street six-deep, watched from prized front yards and balconies and lazed in neighbouring Montpellier Park, absorbing its entrancing view of Geelong and race action on the big screen.
When hovering choppers signalled a swarm of riders approaching heartbreak hill people flocked from the park to the trackside fences and vantage points to share rousing, generous ovations.
Belgian-born Annelien Hanssens waved her Flemish flag with a wide smile.
"Whenever Kim Clijsters plays tennis or Belgians come to cycle, I'll be there," she said.

Sydney's Owen Brockway sat on the Montpellier grass in his cycling gear and marvelled at the magnitude of Geelong's show.
"So many people are talking about it," he said. "We probably won't see the worlds in Australia again will we? Not for a while, not for a good while.

"This is going to be on TVs all round the world."

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SBS also used Phil as the opening shot of their news coverage:

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http://player.sbs.com.au/naca/#/naca/wna/Latest/playlist/World-Road-Cycling-Championships/

Spartacus Delivers

This is probably about as close to the great man as I'll ever get. I'll swear he was already smiling when he rolled down the ramp.