take a flying leap

Happy Leap Day!

Once every four years and we don't even get the day off work? I mean come on....its just as random as Presidents day....or even Valentines day if you asked me...

This is a rare, limited edition of days, and that demands a certain amount of flexibility....especially when it comes to my behavior in or around the workplace....

It doesn't help that its Friday. I've been sick for what feels like a decade, and I am full recoop'ed and ready to roll like no other. I can't wait to get out on the bike this weekend...a little road riding, a little around town action on the fixie, and some hoopty hoppin on the bar bike.

ooooh...and Spring Classics are here!!!! Het Volk tomorrow on cycling.tv. I hate that site, but they've got me by the balls. I loves me some spring classics, and this time of year makes me buy all kinds of crazy cables and A/V crap so I can hook my computer up to the TV and watch it lifesize.

The pic above is pretty funny....I was cleaning out my messenger bag (a bad idea....I guess that counts as that thing I do every 4 years) and found that I had taken the pens from ALL the hotels we stayed in on the Coast Ride....kind of funny/neurotic/clepto...but cool(ish)

What else...I was checking out my favorite blog....here, and saw that Stevil posted this link to a Petition for Google Maps to put "Bike there" option in the Directions....so, click here to SIGN THE PETITION AND PUT BIKES ON THE MAP!!!!

Do something today that you would only do every 4 years....cause you have an excuse.

...and go ride you bike dammit

keep it poppin.

different angle

sometimes you have to do things a little differently to discover something new...and sometimes you just have to go with it.  My day yesterday started with Jury Duty...me, the courthouse, and 150 other strangers in misery.  I managed to wait in about 300 lines, and filled out various documents, and got myself out of the hole deal. At least until September.  In the mean time it put me in Tribeca...just so happened I ned to go to Brooklyn to pick up some parts for the fixie, and I was very close to the Manhattan Bridge.  I've never been across that unit, so I decided to walk it. Beautiful day, nice views etc...glad I did it.  Picked up the parts, then found this kick ass little car that looked like a vintage Smart car....and check the license plate...

then the day just kept going and going. I met up with Phillippe and Aya....some shopping, some coffee, and finally dinner at Freeman's...all in all...a pretty brilliant day.

old school

this is what happens when you have a cold, and can't go ride your bike.  you clean out that big box of cycling crap that is so over-stuffed and disorganized.  sometimes though....you find a kickass piece of cycling history....a remanant of a the days of EPO induced 1-2-3 podium sweeps....

sexywear 4 less

you see some funny ass low-rent shit in south florida. this is right off miami beach....in case you're in the market.

Danzig x Shakira

then there's this...

i don't deserve this thing...but its dope as shit none the less. 15.5 lbs, and those ain't the light wheels...

the dope shit

www.zerogravitybike.com

Limited edition...the magic words

only available here

how often...

do you get to ride with a world champion and olympic athlete....for 30+ hours? NOT THAT OFTEN!!   not to mention Kristin was giving me great relationship advice...cause i need as much of that as i can get. 30 hours of that was not nearly enough. kill 'em Kristin.

Thanks to Ben Hughes for the photo, and you can see the rest of his pics from the Coast Ride here

witch's tit-tay

that's how cold it was today.  11 american degrees.  i saw this frozen beer, or piss in the LES this am...either way, it has to be cold for that to freeze.  got to hang with my friend Steve Elmes today.  he was in from Boulder.  it was great to catch up, and it makes me really realize how many great friends i've made over the years, and i'm really happy that i have stayed in touch with the ones that matter.  no matter what else happens...i got that.

its coming...

click here for more info...

its that time of year again...

pimp ass new bike in pro build progress

Coast Ride on NBC

Kristin Armstrong has a cool blog on NBC Sports...its much more mature than the crap I write here...but she is an Olympian....She was on the Coast Ride, and she wrote about it here

Check out her site as well www.kristinarmstrongusa.com

Kristin is coached by my coach...the man, Mike Sherry and is partner Craig Upton...check them out too:www.performancelabshc.com

word.

back to reality

Smiley, Kristen Armstrong, Ben, and Mon Sherry chowin  some fish tacos J.Lo should really wear sunblock J.Lo and the man...Douggy T. Me, Bruce, J.Lo at the top of Latigo Look behind J.Lo and you can see the KICK ASS twisties we just climbed...LA is pretty cool.

Alas...Training camp is over...back to the cold, grey New York.  Monday was a big slap in the face since it was snowing...wet nasty snow.  not like the 65 and sun we had on the left coast...Never thought I would say it, but I could actually live in Cali....would be pretty cool...

Anyway...NY is NY....but I wanted to give the update on the last few days of the Coast Ride...

So Thursday Day 4, was Santa Barbara to Manhattan Beach...118 miles, again under 6 hours but just barely!!...5 hours, 58 minutes...3800 kcals down....this day felt like the longest recovery ride I have ever had...its nice to feel the fitness piling on.....Another massage from the master Douggy T, and all  is right in the world...its amazing how well you recover with massage, good food, and plenty of sleep...

Friday...Day 5...The Last (sniff, sniff) Day of the Coast Ride... Manhattan Beach to Carlsbad...

110 miles, 6 hours (headwind)  3900 kcals...

I won the final town line sprint into Carlsbad...I didn't shift gears, and I stayed in Zone 2 to do it...thats sweet...glory is mine, and the first beer was on Chris Hauth...

We finished the ride, then I rode directly to the Hertz joint and picked up the rental car....people really look at you funny when you drive a car with a bike helmet on..

Then back to hotel for Dinner, final Douggy T magic, and hit the road.  Me, Molloy, J.Lo, and Mike Sherry were heading up to LA to hang with our boy Bruce, and do some hill work in the Canyons...

THAT....Was a sweet ride.  4 hours, 70 miles, 12 miles of climbing, and some kick ass twisty descents...I love that stuff....

So all in all...7 days of riding, 670 miles total, 38 hours of saddle time.  Not a bad training week.

Word.

Coast Ride Quotes

Molloy: "Good wine is nice to have"

R Kelly: "I'm happiest when I'm hungry"

J. Lo: "Polly wants a f*&#ing cracker!"

Chris Hauth: "Last hill of the day!"

Cute chic at Starbucks in Santa Barbara: "Where are you guys mobbin' from"