For sale: Brand new Giant OCR road bike
Giant road bike in mint condition. No scratches or dents, has only been used once to go to the shops for a coffee. Owner has no use for the bike as he has recently taken up a fulltime position as a sloth.
No reasonable offer will be refused!
runner : rider
Runner: I spend a lot of my running time on shared cycle/pedestrian paths. Often you come zooming past from behind and I don’t even know you’re there. It can be quite a shock. Couldn’t you ring your bell or something?
Rider: Dude. A bell would add like 30 grams to my bike. That’s going to seriously slow me down.
Runner: Maybe you could try the new Shimano Ultramicronads. It’s a bell made out of a lightweight titanium alloy, weighs in at 8 grams and costs about $300. I hear Lance Armstong and Schapelle Corby use one.
Rider: I think you mean Cadel Evans. Sounds good but still, 8 extra grams.
Runner: Well you could always lose a few kilos from your gut.
Rider: That’s a bit below the belt.
Runner: Actually your gut is above your belt but now that you mention it you’re carrying a bit of excess baggage on your fat arse too. If you can’t use a bell couldn’t you at least call out to let me know you’re about to pass?
Rider: I suppose I could but it might shatter my mental state. See every time I pass a rider I’m telling myself that I’ve broken away from the bidon for my sprint down the Champ du Ulysses and I’m passing another Belgian drug cheat just before the finishing line.
Runner: OK. Whatever. But if I do hear you coming up behind don’t be surprised if I hog the middle of the path or throw an elbow.
Melburn Roubaix 2007
The Melbourne Roubaix: Hell of the Northcote returns in 2007. Due to other commitments I missed out in 2006 but this year I am a certain starter.
I am a climber so I am far too light for riding over cobbles. Consequently I will be acting as a domestique for Matt in an effort to guide him to victory in one of the world’s most prestigious one day races.* What goes around comes around so Matt will be my domestique for the first few climbs of the 2008 Alpine Classic.
Some nice photos of the 2006 Melbourne Roubaix
If you are not familiar with cycling history then the Melburn Roubaix pays homage to the Paris Roubaix which is the world’s permier one day cycling race. An Australian Stuart O’Grady is the regining champion.
*Actually the Melburn Roubaix is not prestigious. Its not even a race. Its all just a bit of fun.
You’re better off by bike
An open letter to Ivan Basso
Dear Ivan Basso,
I have watched you compete in the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and “got to know you a little” in Overcoming.
You are one of my favourite cyclists. Not because of your talent but because you are such a gentleman. Like the time you won a stage of the Giro holding a picture of your newly born child or the time you called Lance for advice when your mother was diagnosed with cancer. Sensitive and vulnerable actions like those are rarely seen in professional sport and never seen in Australia. Consequently you won me as a fan.
You were the leader of the world’s best cycling team and had several years of dominance to come. With Lance gone you had a few yellow jerseys waiting for you in Paris.
So why did you get into blood doping? Why? Why? Why!
I understand the reasons must be varied and almost justifiable. Nothing is ever black and white. The pressure put on your shoulders must have been immense and I guess it only takes one moment of weakness to make you a doper.
Maybe you are not such a gentleman after all? Maybe you just have good PR skills? Its a cliché but I don’t know what to believe anymore. Infact drugs in cycling is getting rather boring.
I don’t believe a super star like you has to justify his actions to the “ordinary” man. What you do is your choice and yours alone.
Having said that… fuck you and every other sports person who takes drugs!
Regards,
Ben
P.S. I still like you and really hope you do you time and come back and win some races. Hopefully a team good enough for your talent will want to work for you… but I doubt it.
101 things to do with a $5
1. Fix a slashed tyre on a bike
It seems that the 1988 decision to produce Australian currency in polymer instead of on paper has provided the nation’s citizens with more than indestructible rainbow coloured cash.
Cyclists take note: the $5 is a handy addition to your puncture repair kit.
On a recent rail trail it seemed my luck had run out when puncture number two announced itself with a loud hiss on the homeward stretch. A little ingenuity was needed to protect the tube from foreign (pointy) objects that would make their way in via the gaping hole in my 3-year-old tyres.
Mr Toured-Tibet-On-Two-Wheels suggested using a $5 note as a lining/barrier between the tube and the outside world, a great idea that lasted at least 30 kilometres and was still going strong when I retired the tyres for a shiny new set of Schwalbe marathon tyres (thanks for the recommendation Mr I-Conquered-Alpe-d’Huez).
Calling for other unexpected uses for a $5 (keep it nice).
Back on
Back on the bike this week for the first time in quite a while (ATB?). School holidays = can ride to work.
Haven’t been back on rock for ages, this clip’s got me thinking though.
If the embedded link doesn’t work click here.
An open letter to Look Bicycle Products
Dear Look Cycling Products,
I am a keen recreational road cyclist and have been a fan of Look Bicycle Products for several years. I am also a fan of the cyclists who endorse Look products, particularly Thor Hushovd and my favourite cyclist Robbie McEwan. I love how fast they can ride even after they have been riding all day.
It was my understanding that Look Cycling Products such as the KEO Sprint Road Pedal are of a high quality. This perception is re-enforced by your high-end prices. I am a discerning consumer, and I certainly don’t mind paying more for a product if there is a benefit of doing so. In the case of the KEO Sprint Road Pedal I considered there was.
I saved up some money and in August 2006 I purchased a brand new pair of red KEO Sprint Road Pedals. I got the red ones cause they match my bike nicely.
I rode with the pedals about 2 or 3 times a week for 2 months before the left pedal broke. I was a bit surprised by this but “these things happen” and it was only a small bolt or pin that broke and could not cost more than a few dollars and maybe 20 minutes of labour.
I took my broken pedal to Brunswick Street Cycles. Only to be told that because I purchased the pedals in the USA that Look would not honour the warranty. (That’s he last time I be honest when taking something back). The boys at BSC took up my case anyway and despite their lobbying you have refused to fix the pedal, a fix that would literally take you a few minutes. Probably less time than it takes to respond to this letter. Furthermore I was told that these pedals hardly ever break, so I doubt you would have a backlog of broken pedals to fix. At least I hope not.
To compound the ridiculousness of the situation I weigh 65kg. I cannot be considered too heavy for your pedals. I am clearly not at fault for the pedal breaking.
What exactly is going on here? Has my pedal miraculously transformed as I left the USA? Is Look Cycling Products not the same company south of equator? Why can’t you guys stand by your products and support your customers? I am not trying to be nasty. I just want a fair go and for you to not be so mean spirited.
Here’s another experience I’ve had lately. One of my Full Speed Ahead carbon crank arms was faulty and had to be replaced. FSA replaced the crank arm within a few days at no cost and no questions asked. They were not concerned that I purchased the product in the USA and FSA proclaim that they happily stand by their products and offer a world wide warranty. I imagine replacing the crank arm would have been expensive and I am very impressed by the way FSA have looked after me. If FSA made pedals I would purchase some.
The question I have for you is… Other companies in the cycling industry are able to stand by their products and customers. Why can’t Look Cycling Products do the same?
The Giant of Provence
We leave from Bedoin, a charming little town at the foot of Mt Venoux. It’s a beautiful autumn day with the temperature in the low 30s.
Our route is one of the most famous climbs of the Tour de France and is regarded as one of the hardest. The 22km climb is rated at 7.6% but the first 3 three kilometres are flat-ish so most of the riding is in excess of 9-10%. There are signs every few hundred metres in case you forget… but you don’t forget.
Mt Ventoux is relentless. Richard is riding like a robot and I try to keep pace but it is futile. At one stage I am suffering so much I get off to check my bike because the road feels unnaturally heavy. Its a desperate move. The sweat stings my eyes and the flies have a field day. I’m having the time of my life. No seriously.
In around 1.38.00 we reach the summit. Other cyclists are there to greet us. We nod to each other. There is a man selling fudge and candy and unfortunately there are many motorists. Motorists should not be here.
For around an hour we bask in the sun and stare off into the distance. Kinda like they do in Brokeback Mountain. We then begin our decent and briefly our speedometres display 82kph. That was stupid.
We return to our hotel, nestled amongst rolling hills and vineyards. Our hosts have a beer waiting.
I then hear about a man who climbed Mt Ventoux with his 12-year-old son. They probably weren’t the fastest but they made it.
That is why I love riding my bike.
Changing sides
Deciding on who to support in this years tour has been a difficult task, eternal bridesmaid Jan?, just stepped out of tha salon Basso?, A patriotic vote for Cadel Evans?, the crab Mancebo?
As of yesterday it became crystal clear. Liberty Seguros. Why? Because they have Avlexander Vinikourov who has the cycling equivalent to ADHD and now the manager and doctor have been done for drugs.
Allez Liberty Seguros