Paris-Roubaix 2007 Revisited

Thanks for great food, wine and film Anthony – the most important message that I took away from the night was Stuart O’Grady’s quote “even if you were born in Adelaide, good things can still happen to you” – that meant a lot to me! - Don

Mt Macedon Loop

Cold but dry. A great mid week loop around, and eventally over, Mt Macedon.

Thanks Stuart.

Tour of California

The images of the fans posted on the veloimages/steephills.tv site over the 8 day tour give an interesting insight into the craziness that California is famous for....

I think in the interest stakes exhibitionism wins out over bike racing in the premier US bike race.

The Eddie and Roger Show

THE CANNIBAL EXPLAINS TO ROGER EXACTLY HOW HE’S GOING TO FUCK HIM OVER.

THE BELGIAN, TO HIS CREDIT, LOOKS COOL AS A FUCKING CUCUMBER.

WHAT A PAIR.

This is straight from my favourite site at the moment BigRingRiding. Beautiful.

Nice surprise

After yesterday's gentle roll through the hills of Kinglake Tony suggested we stop at the Mernda Bakery on the way home... Mernda Bakery?? WTF??

Anyway tucked in the street behind the servo on the right running parallel to the Whittlesea Road is a bakery dating back to the late 1800's. The original oven has been loving restored and is working a treat. Mine host is an old political mate of Tony's...born again as a baker...with considerable success.

Definitely one to remember for those rides home from the hills.

Fausto showing how it's done...

Coppi cruising up Stelvio...way to go.

Cool team car too.

All vehicles must fit chains

Seriously FUGLY...

The Dutchman currently leading the Giro must also be leading the award for the Tours most ugly bike competition. I'm not sure what the jersey would be for that but Lew's probably got a few contenders in his wardrobe.

Also why the need to bring it to the post stage press conference? Who'd steal it?

Giro in Tuscony

For those of us about to leave the winter for 3 weeks of European riding something to whet the appetite...

Mortality

In view of yesterday's post about dangerous descents on the Giro the news of a LeopardTrek riders fall and death this morning is especially poignant. Again RedKitePrayer sets the gold standard for considered reflection:

Wouter Weylandt died today on Stage 3 of the Giro d’Italia. He crashed hard on a Category 3 descent, and never got up. I didn’t know him, was only vaguely aware of who he was and what he’d done in our sport. I learned of his death on the Cyclingnews live feed of the race and confirmed it on Twitter. Tragedy is the easy but obvious word to describe Weylandt’s death.

Tragedies happen.

How we connect to them says a lot about our human condition. I didn’t know Wouter Weylandt but he’s a cyclist like I am a cyclist. He was an expectant father, as I have been. Our human nature seeks these similarities, makes the connections in some sort of empathetic short hand, looks to divine the meaning and the signs, so that what happens to others does or doesn’t happen to us. Empathy comes with implications for us and the way we go on.

When I was younger I didn’t understand the ways people connect to one another. I was always contemptuous of spirituality and other nebulous propositions about things unseen. But, fortunately I matured. We do, in fact, connect to the people around us, sometimes in obvious ways, sometimes in ways more obscure. Those connections, intangible as they seem, clearly exist. They are spiritual. That is what spirituality is, in my mind.

I’m afraid to ride home now.

My riding is an order of magnitude more conservative than it was twenty years ago. I don’t take nearly as many risks, but I still take them. Coming across town in the morning, I have jumped in front of buses and sprinted for the lane. I have run lights that were beyond yellow. I have put myself between a truck and a hard place. Why?

Impatience. Stupidity.

Professional cyclists don’t die on the road with nearly the frequency of race car drivers or top-level rock climbers. It’s a dangerous job, but racers don’t expect to die. Commuters don’t either.
On a day like today I recognize the gamble that crossing a busy city on a bicycle represents, and further, I recognize that what I am gambling with isn’t solely mine to bet. It belongs to my wife and my kids and my parents and my friends too. I am connected.

I wonder if Wouter Weylandt knew how connected he was. I hope so. I will ride home better tonight for his passing. It’s all the tribute I can make.

Just another day at the Giro...

Contador was worried about the Crostis descent

As last year, there will be nets to catch any straying cyclists.

Thanks to fuckyeahcycling.

Bottle carrier

Thanks to Lew for this litle gem...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72559858/bicycle-wine-rack-leather-1-frame

Giro d'Italia 2011

The 2011 Giro rolls off tomorrow with a Team Time Trial into Turino. The only coverage I can find on free to air TV is the SBS highlights package which starts at 6pm Sunday night Melbourne time and runs through to the end of the Tour. It's a shame not to at least have live broadcasting of the key mountain stages...maybe next year?

Meanwhile...courtesy of Andy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r9nIlouQI4&feature=player_embedded

Amy's Grand Fondo...

Inaugural Australian Event!

120km of fully closed roads - including 40km on the iconic Great Ocean Road, Victoria.

Mass participation competitive event based on finishing time - true 'Gran Fondo' style

Open to all rider levels with staggered starting times ensuring safety is a priority

Age group and Team prize money and awards

Only 3000 places!

Early bird registrations now open!

Bay to Bay Ride 2011

Short, fast and loud from B2B 2011:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nVGa81EJ6s

PS: I promise to stop doing this.

Sock Height

Since Lew is sending on advice to Jim about matters of satorial elegance I thought it may be worth passing on such vital information:

Sock Height

Posted by James Moffat on Sun, 10 Oct 2010

I thought that briefly I would go into the most important issue in cycling today. That issue is the one of sock height. Firstly though, I think I have to clear up the issue, or rather non-issue, that is the proper colour of the socks. Only one answer; it has to be white – no black socks like Wiggins and Armstrong, only white. One particular Melbourne bike shop that makes beautiful bikes had decided on having yellow socks, why it has made this awful decision with sock colour I could not possibly comprehend. So without a doubt if you want to look PRO go with white socks.

Now onto the main issue; the one about length. Among cycling circles there are many arguments to do with sock length. While there are some standard guidelines, many choose to break these rules. In my opinion the worst of these people is Michael Huntchison. Hutchinson, a prominent UK time triallist and cycling author has decided to wear compression socks that go up to his knee while riding. While I couldn’t find a photo of the Hutch in compression socks I found the above horror.

The next unacceptable look is that of wearing no socks. This look is seemingly popular with the riders who started in the 70′s. The main reason they say for this abomination of a look is to avoid a sock tan line. In my opinion if you are a cyclist you need to be proud of your tan line, its what makes you a cyclist. Unfortuantely I could not find a photo of this look.

Now we get to the last unacceptable look. That is the extremely low sock look. The people who wear this look fall into the unPRO look. These socks tend to be non-cycling socks and are quite thick. The only just raise above the shoe making for a very amateur look. The other sock falling into the category is the ankle socks, these cycling horrors cut across the top of the shoes. Nothing spells out amateur more than these two looks.

The last two lengths are the only ones to be considered. The first is the 3″ inch sock. This sock tends to be a favourite of the older a.k.a the Dad generation. While these socks are acceptable, in my opinion aren’t nearly as good as the 5″ incher. This sock which has sprung to popularity in the past couple of years is now the pro choice of sock.

I hope this post has given you a little indication of the sock choices you need to make. Here is my final reccomendation if you are pro or under 30 always go the 5 incher, but if you are over 30 or you are simply not pro go for the three incher. Ultimately the choice is up to you and as long as you go for either the 3 or 5 incher you will be fine.