For Richard Sachs

So last night was the preview party for the BESPOKE: The Handbuilt Bicycle show at the Museum of Arts and Design in the NYC curated by Michael Maharam (yes, the fabric guy), and Sacha White of Vanilla fame.

The show opens to the general public today, running through August 15th...

Great examples of the finest handmade bikes in the world from Pegoretti, Sacha White's Vanilla and Speedvagen, Mike Flanigan's A.N.T., and of course...OF COURSE! Richard Sachs. I always love running into Richie, be it at a cross race or a museum opening, its always a fun time, and good conversation atmo. He always reminds me that I haven't posted anything on my blog....so Richie...this one's for you. Can't wait to see you at the cross races....send me your schedule would ya, I wanna make sure I'm at ALL the same races.

To read about the show go here Read it and then go see it. Support bikes, cause the oil is gonna run out people.

No new bikes...but I got myself a new wife, and a new baby girl. Rowan Elizabeth Kelly is runnin' shit.

ESS EFF

In the San Fran for SSWC 08. All the usual supects.  Brits on a weak dollar are dangerous.

Empire PSA

Neat huh.

GOLD,GOLD,GOLD, another one GOLD!

We knew Kristen would do it.

Congratulations! Must have been all those pancakes....

Let the HUP-ness begin

Got this in the mail yesterday....Super stoked to be rolling the Baby Blue this cross season...HUP United....this team defines Cyclocross Culture, and THAT my friends, is what it is all about.

Karl+Crits = Rock Star

Yes...that's the doper extraordinare Tyler Hamilton covering K. Rahn's attack...

Once again...Pretty Boy Karl Rahn takes it to the front in the Harlem Skyscraper Crit in the NYC presented by Rock Racing...

as a result, our whole team was put into the barriers in the last laps as they put the lead out train together...

and made the website that let's you know you actually did something here

Photo from the one and only Marco Quezada

I was busy with an upper respiratory infection (not from smoking weed I might add) so Iwas on my ass for 5 days...neat huh?

monday yet again

Yes Yes! Its Monday again....Which really can mean only one thing....I have to go to work.  But more importantly, I have to go to work in the BEAT DOWN condition that 2 days of bike racing in 98 degree heat leaves you in.  Sore, Sun-burned, and depressed.  The goal this weekend was to suffer like no other in preparations for the 'cross, and suffer I did.

Saturday started early with the Empire State Games Qualifier in Prospect Park (Brooklyn).  Now, we race in the PP alot throughout the summer, but the reason this one is different is the length.  Prospect races are usually 15-17 laps of 3.2 mile course, add the 13 mile ride out there from Manhattan, and door to door, you've got a good day in by 9:30 am (not to mention a cafe stop on the way back....sweet sweet Cafe Gitane!)  The ESG Qualifier is 22 laps of that lovely course, making it come out to about 70 miles of racing, and 25 for the round tr

ip commute (Cafe!)  The other quite treacherous part of this race is it is all one BIG category...yep, you heard right..Cat. P-1-2-3 AND 4, making a starting field of damn near 200 people, half of which cannot m

ake their bike go in a straight line to save their lives.  It was indeed a scary day.

Mike Margarite went up the road in a LONG (15 lap or so) break, so at least all I had to do was hang out with the rest of my team (we lined up 8 bodies at that unit) and make sure no attacks went away....MM was in that break with 2 sprinters, and although as strong as Belgian Bar Maid, Margaritaville is no sprinter...so he got 3rd...a damn fine ride.  J. Lo threw a last lap attack that got him in for 5th...not a bad day...the rest of us sat up on the last lap to avoid being killed in the sprint...Then a rid

e home, som food at Gitane, and all by 11am (NYC Racing is not so bad!!!)  Leaving the rest of the day to hang out with my girlie. Which is what I did...We went to the Takashi Murakmi exhibit at the Broklyn Museum of Art...yes I know, not so PRO to be walking around a museu

m after 90 miles of racing and another race the next day...but ya know.....I just not that PRO...

Sunday was the Tour of Highland Park, and here is a perfect example of how un-PRO I am. When I registered for the P1/2/3 race of this lovely circuit (3.2 mile lap - 11 laps) the race promoter asked," Are you sure you want to do that?"  You see...I'm a Cat 3, and he was giving me an out. But my ego and my teammates were there, so I listed to both, and off I went.  98 degrees on the start line.  So hot we had ice in our jersey pockets...no shit. ICE!  Such a cool course...a 2 step climb right out of the blocks( Really a wall I should say, 4mph kinda shit)  hard right and flat for a bit, the left up a short false flat kinda thing, then a right on this kick as single lane, beat up, Belgian style descent, then up another climb, (where someone painted on

 the road, " You just made a deposit in the PAIN BANK!....great), then down another fast descent then into 2 right handers that at 40mph was more like a big 180 degree turn, then the finishing straight. We lined up 6 guys..also on the line were some Chipolte/Slipstream dudes, Colavita, Hot Tubes, and Roger Aspholm...So Yeah, I'm wondering what I got myself into.  So. off we go....again realizing how under-trained, over worked, and un-PRO I am...I stick it for a few laps, then blow sky high. One lap later, Karl comes out , (ok I don't feel so ba

d now), one more lap, and Kevin is on the side of the road (mechanical) We lined up 6 guys, 4 on

 the side of the road ,and Margarite and Deeny in there fully given' it.  Hundred degrees and th

e ref. won't let us feed...BS I say.  There was a break of 4 up the road the stuck it, Deeny finished 5 th in no man's land bridging, and Margarite 2nd in the feidl sprint for 7th.  Not Bad....but the best part of the day was when Molloy rides into the gravel parking lot at 20mph on h

is Cervelo Carbon Soloist, Sram Red, Reynolds DV46 Carbon Tubulars, and locks it up into a BMX style, foot down, power slide...like it was a huffy.  I love it....I've always said: SKIDDING: Good for moral - Bad for tires (and carbon wheels)

a new addition

So you wonder what OCD Cyclocross Fanatics do during the summer month? You guessed it geek of 'cross gear. Tires, tire pressure, wheels, brakes, and did I mention tires?

I just built up this DOPE set of Edge Composites wheels on Chris King Hubs, which will eventually migrate to my gear bike. I started tinkering with my Indy Fab single speed CX machine, and it got out of control. Ending with Campy Record Ultra-Torque Cranks, and Carbon Record Brake Levers.

I truly have a problem.

OK OK...I have to make a confession...I did not build these wheel myself.  I COULD HAVE (but it would have taken me like a week)  Instead, a much MUCH better wheel builder did.  My friend Eric (aka The Alabama Hot-Pocket) in Tuscaloosa, laced these up

Photo Shoot

So I got interviewed for the watch magazine  because, well I work in the watch industry, and the mag was doing an article on the Tour of Cali, and how pro cyclists/athletes manage their time.  I happen to know a few of the pros they were interveiwing, and (even though I'm not that PRO) Joao sent them my way. I have a feeling that they are gonna try and sell my some more adverts out of this deal, but none the less, it was a cool time.  I will be in a side bar in the article about TOC, and I am happy to say I will be sharing said sidebar with Richard Sachs and RGM...good company atmo.  Marco Quezada took the shots and they came out great...we'll see which ones end up in the book....I'm sure they will crop them down so you can only see my eyeball, but whatever. 

The shoot was the same day as the infamous Papal visit to the NYC.  Its only infamous to people who live here in the city, because they locked this island DOWN

 son.  You couldn't go anywhere without there being a road closed...but this cool shot came out of it...

What else...hmmmm....I will have to say that this is the first road season that I have been able to abstain from early season races...so as not to be FRIED or cross season.....

all I got...

Sachsy!

If anybody out there wants to see life through the eyes a true artist, the check out this:

A film by Desmond Horsfield...learn more about him here

http://www.richardsachs.com/dvd.html

There is also a great write on it here on Belgian Knee Warmers...

My copy is on the way....I can't wait...its almost as exciting as cross season...atmo.

Keep on keepin' on e-RICHIE!!

glamour shot

karl with a k http://www.mlkimages.com/gallery/4357746_66yz4#272512564_2Xio4-L-LB

its a sickness..

Its not even April yet, and I just got these delivered today.  It is indeed a sickness.  Oh yeah, I've already got my cross schedule figured out for the upcoming 2008/09 season, and I've starting booking work travel so that it links all the USGP's together. Sad, sad, sad.  I don't know what else to call it...except  PRO AS HELL!!!! Sweet ass  Dugasts!!! What the hell do I have to be sad about!!!!  32mm, low as hell psi...I cannot WAIT to run that shit!!!!

racing?

K. Rahn in the break.  Photo: www.marcoquezada.com Ok, so I'm gonna play a little catch up here... There has indeed been some bike racing.  There was an NYC central park race in the rain that J. Lo won with Alex Bremer in the break with him.  Karl and I were on the front of the field keeping things together.  It was rainy, it was the first CRCA race, and it was way too easy.  I have no photos, well because it was raining.

Next up....Grant's Tomb Criterium.  I will start by saying I hate this race like no other.  It put on by the Columbia Cyling Team, so I'm happy to enter just to support their team, but I just suck in early March...I've accepted this, and I have moved on.

Karl on the other hand was the star of the day in my book.  He was all over the front of the P12 race, and was in several moves...most noteable was his break that he initiated to launch J.Lo, that ended with them in a 3 man brake for the last 10 laps of the race...only getting caught with 1 lap to go. Props out to the Sakonnet Squad....Koschara has been teachin

g those kids how to bite nails in half, and it shows. 

 

breakity, break, break. Karl and J.Lo rollin. Photo: www.marcoquezada.com

Last was Prospect Park this past Sunday.  It was really cold and windy and the feild was about 50 I'd say.  It was a normal day for me of closing down EVERY FREAKIN GAP that those sissies opened up.  I felt like I was in the wind the whole damn race.  Joao Correia showed up, and it was good to catch up with him.  We had breakfast after, and caught up with his road stories of life with Bissell.  I then took a nap.  and wrenched on some bikes...and took another nap.  Racing at 6AM pretty much wipes you for the rest of the day.

Otherwise....I still can't stop thinking about cross....I know....it's way

too early.  But, I don't care.

SS Cross Love

So we are a long ways from cross season.....so how to bridge the gap between now and then?

We tweak on all the cross stuff that we have(drink beer), buy new stuff(drink beer), have tire and tire pressure discussions(while drinking beer), and for chrissake...we run(rod dixson?). 

So my Single Speed Indy Fab Cross is gettin the love right now.....that's right Campy Record Carbon brake levers....P - I - M - P!!!

Check back soon for the crank and..ehem...WHEELS!

New Links

So maybe you noticed, or maybe you didn't...but I updated my links yesterday while I was waiting for a flight in the DFW airport (yes...that's Dallas...don't ask) so....

Look over to the right there and start clickin'...newest ones are on top...

You'll see some cool bikes from Richard Sachs, Zanconato, DeKerf...etc and of course you will see some great commentary on some blogs I frequent regularly: e-RICHIE (ATMO!) , HUP United (My Cross Team), Embrocation Magazine's blog (Super cool..BUY IT!) ...and of course Belgian Knee Warmers.

enjoy them...I do every day...

BFF 2008 New York Dates Announced

That's right the 2008 Bicycle Film Festival is slated for May 28 - June 1 here in the NYC.

Click HERE for more info on schedule, volunteering etc...

Richard's Night Out...

So we decided to have the the inevitable "boy's night out" situation on Wednesday night....This basically gives us the license to be dicks....hence the name Richard's night out.  (There isn't anyone named Richard by the way...but it seemed more clever than Dick's night out) Now for me, this is like any other night, (since I'm single) The rest of the crew can say all those things that their girlfriend would slap them for....and we can talk about bikes..ALOT without seeing anyones eyes roll.  We mobbed this kick ass Italian place in Williamsburg, called PT,  with a good crew.  Me, Kevin, Karl, Philippe, Eli, Shinji, and Billy...good times, good times.

We had some great wines, and great food...I have to say, I'll def. go there again....I have it notated in my phone as "good date spot". 

Of course that is making two VERY big assumptions:

1. That I convince some poor unassuming girl to actually go out with me. 

2. I don't make a complete ass out of myself, or bore her to death with bike speak before we actually make it to the restaurant.

I've figured something out though....as you get older (me a whopping 34) you realized that you still have to go to work the next day, and that torturous endeavor will pass more  

quickly and with less pain if you get some sleep and aren't still drunk when you wake up in the morning...That's what we get when you have Richard's night out on a frickin Wednesday.

After dinner we hit Zebulon for a beer, and that was bell lap....

Super good time...Richard needs to get out more often....

Oh...and for all those girlfriends that read my blog....everyone actually talked about how much they missed their better half, and about their burning desire to go outlet mall shopping.... for the record.

baby's first bath

That's right....the first scrub on the new stick for the year...

This is how we have to do it here in the NYC. In the bathtub.  The good thing about this situation is that it forces me to clean the bathroom after...WAIT WAIT WAIT....I know what you're thinking.  You're thinking that the only time I clean my bathroom is when I clean my bike...aren't you?  Well...YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!!  This could be a contributing factor to my perpetual single-ness...but if you think about....my bathroom probabally stays cleaner as a result.  

Let's face it.  I clean my bike before every race, and after REALLY nasty training rides....so for the most part...I'm cleaning that unit once a week at a minimum!

The downside, is no amount of scrubbing bubbles will completely erase that grease ring....SORRY LANDLORD!  GOOD THING ITS A RENTAL.

Whatever...some people have hairballs in their tub...I have grease boogers...you know...the ones from you rear derailleur jockey pulleys?  I LOVE THOSE!!

Keep it clean...

another weekend gone

bummer...its monday.

I will say that yesterday's ride was as dope as they come on pavement. I rolled solo yesterday for about 4 hours of endurance.  I know there may be some controversey when it comes to ipods and bike riding, but i love mine when i'm riding alone.  guess what....I wasn't wearing a helmet either.HA!  The weather was cold and clear, sunshine, and just a little bit of wind. perfect.

I got some new music, so it was a perfect time to give it a spin....the playlist went something like this:

St. Vincent

Bon Iver

Pink Mountaintops

Black Mountain

That was the new stuff....then into a mix of old reliables with the likes of Shellac, Madvillan, Beasties, M83...blah blah blah.

It was fun, so there.

Tour of New Zealand is in the books!!

Congratulations Kristin....you deserve all the pancakes you can eat.. Full results here.....photos courtesy of www.WomensCycling.net

classics season

I'm gonna start by saying that CYCLING.TV SUCKS A BIG FAT HAIRY ONE!!!!  If someone out there has the inter web and computer know how, I am calling on you to start a competing internet TV channel that can PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS!!!

Me, Kevin, and Karl got all excited to watch Het Volk yesterday.  So excited that instead of watching the replay later in the afternoon, we decided to do it up over breakfast and watch the action live.  So that means we all meet at K. Molloy's at 8h30 (in the morning).  We were prepared for whatever....Oatmeal, scones, tons of coffee, and of course Belgian Beer.

So what happened?  Those knackers at cycling.tv must be using an old Commodore 64 as there server, because it crashed.  Basically we saw the last 6k of the race with Gilbert killing it for the win.  

Normally, we would have gotten over it and watched the re-run later in the day, but know the finish is spoiled for us!!! All because of those no talent ass clowns at cycling.tv.  Thanks boys. You suck.

In other news, it was the perfect start to the Classics season...We headed out on the bikes at about noon, "WE" being the Empire boys (my team), to get in some miles in what looked like it was turning into a beautiful day in Manhattan...42 degrees, with just a little wind.  So we all rallied, dressed for what was supposed to be a 46 degree day.  By the time we got over the GWB...there was no sun in sight, and temps clearly dropped.  Oh yeah, and it started SNOWING.   Did we turn around...negatory good buddy.  We rolled on, and the snow subsided, and it was just cold...no big deal.  We did a nice 3 hours into upstate NY, and when we got onto 9w for the final go back into the city....the snow stated coming down so hard we could only see about 100m in front of us, not to mention the nastiest head/cross wind you could imagine.  Now remember. We already got snowed on once, and there was still about 4 inches of the crap on the ground, so the roades were wet...so WE were wet too.  We immediately threw the endurance zone out the window and me, Karl, Kevin, and J.Lo started a paceline out of  shear survival instinct...we did that a good half an hour, and got back to the GWB...oh...yeah...then the sun came out.  It hurt alot...I was really cold...pretty much miserable....it was everything a good ride should be.

photo above courtesy of www.bettiniphoto.net

  

Kristin Armstrong gettin it done

Kristin is kickin ass in the Tour of New Zealand...this 

photo (courtesy of WomensCycling.net) is her winning Stage 3, 125k. full story and results here.   She's in the lead on GC with 2 stages left to go and an 11 second lead....COME ON KRISTIN!!!

Stage 5 is a 7K TT which is tommorow (er..today, tonight...crap these time differences screw with me)   and we know she's got the goods when it come to TT. 

Last stage, Stage 6 is a 40k Crit, and as long as she keeps the rubber to the road, no tme is gettin lost there....

Kristin is cool...she deserves the win, especially after putting up with us jackasses on the Coast Ride...she was even nice enough to fill my bottles one day...hehehehe (thanks for the photo Ben Hughes)

Follow the results here

Keep on keepin' on Kristin!!

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.