Just glad to be here...

Who cares about a dope-free Tour de France?

nobody@vox.com(buzban) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:23:32 -0700

I follow professional cycling sort of closely. Not obsessed, but certainly I pay attention, and like tons of Americans, I consider the Tour de France to be the pinnacle of the sport. I watch it closely every year. [Yeah, the classics are great, and the other grand tours are beautiful. Don't be a snob.]

This year, there has been considerable hullabaloo about doping in professional cycling, and in the Tour de France in particular. Last year's winner, Alberto Contador, is mired in the Spanish Puerto doping affair. Since Discovery Channel's team folded, he moved over to Astana, which has a terrible reputation for doping after two of its major riders were caught injecting extra blood during last year's Tour.

In 2006, Floyd Landis brought shame to the race and the sport by using synthetic testosterone to win the race. There are many more examples of teams and riders who have been found to be cheats.

As the sport hit bottom, approximately July or last year, there were varied reactions from within. Some teams, such as Slipstream, High Road, and CSC/Saxo, implemented rigorous, transparent athlete testing programs. Race organizations and riders unions proposed similar measures for the sport overall. The organizers of the Tour de France used this climate as an opportunity to try to limit the damage. They kept Astana out of the Tour, thus in their mind reducing the likelihood of doping problems. [This also lessened the chance that one of Johan Bruyneel's teams would win the Tour yet again... they're still smarting over the dominance of Lance.]

So, here's 2008. New doping controls on many teams, many riders declaring their cleanliness and godliness, and the Tour de France stating that it will not tolerate doping in this year's race.

How's that going for you? As I write this, the riders are working on Stage 12 of the Tour. Three riders have already tested positive for banned performance enhancers. [I won't lie... I was particularly happy to see Ricco test positive for EPO.]

As long as there are exogenous performance enhancers, some athletes will use them. In any competitive activity more animated than chess, there will always be doping. I'll bet there's a competitive hot-dog eater out there somewhere using some form of drugs to increase performance. Seriously. Just like that one person who wants to cut in front of you in traffic, just like people and corporations who want to weasel out of their bills, and just like people will put inordinate amounts of time into doing things illegally when they could do better to simply get a freaking job like the rest of us... Somebody will always take the easy path.

And look, cycling is hard. No doubt baseball, sprinting, football, etc., are hard. And when you're at an elite level of these sports, it's hard to stand out. It's possible. But you have to work for it. And there's always someone who wants the reward without the effort.

Remember the BALCO thing from the past few years, and Marion Jones and Barry Bonds and all this other stuff? Look forward to hearing more about it during and after this year's Olympics. The Tour de France this year? We're not done. I'd bet there will be one, maybe two more.

The important part is this: Dopers are being caught. The winner of this year's Tour will not test positive for anything. There will be a clean Tour this year, but only because the doping controls will clean house while the race is on the road. And there will still be idiots -- we've identified three so far -- who just don't get it. Know what? Keep your toothbrush and a change of clothes handy for when they cart you away.

In the meantime, the popularity of honest and transparent teams, ones with integrity and purpose, will continue to gain in popularity. What does it say that Slipstream and High Road got big sponsors in Garmin and Columbia, respectively, within a half a season? While Discovery couldn't find anyone to pick up their bills? Milram, Gerolsteiner, on and on and on... These other teams may or may not be doping. But the lack of a forthright, proactive approach kills them. I say let them fall on their faces. I'll be rooting for the teams that come up behind them, and demonstrate to us that they are honest and trustworthy.

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Ronde von Mullica 2008

nobody@vox.com(buzban) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:35:34 -0700

Yesterday our shop hosted the Ronde von Mullica road race. I need to vent a bit about it. Knowing the three people who will read this in its entirety, thanks in advance. The rest of you are excused till next post.

Ronde von Mullica
Near the Pro Pedals shop in Hammonton, we have a lot of lightly-trafficked roads, and can put on races on courses such as the 10-mile loop we used for the Ronde. Jason, our fearless leader, puts on some great races in the area, and this one was a success overall.

There are some funny things going on lately in New Jersey bicycle racing. Turnout for races is fairly low. Normally our races are well-attended, because we put on most of the road races in South Jersey... Some folks don't like criteriums (don't know why!). There were some conflicting events yesterday (e.g., the American Cancer Society had its charity ride), and apparently people are balking at the price of gas and the general cost of getting to races nowadays. Honestly, I don't quite get it -- gas looks expensive, yes, but what is it? Maybe a third more than last year? It might total an exta $10. Looks worse than it is, I think.

Anyway, six races yesterday. The first set of three was the Category 3 race, then the Masters 35+ age group, then the Category 5 race. I marshalled a corner for the first set of races, and got to hang out with Otto, one of my esteemed teammates. Good time, and a decent morning to be outside. These races did 5, 5, and 3 laps respectively, for 50, 50, and 30 miles. Our team had some decent results, including a third place in the Cat 5 after a crash on the last lap. Keith from Mambos had a nice win in the 35+ I believe.

After a 20-minute or so break, the next set of races was on. Pro 1/2/3, the 45+, and the Cat 4. Six, 5, and 4 laps. I raced the Cat 4.

Legs, Location, & Luck
This morning I'm developing an algorithm to determine race winningabilityness. It's going to revolve around the following: {Legs, Location, Luck}. I don't know what the exact mix is yet, but yesterday definitely did not have it for me.

I started the race pretty strong, and tried to keep things moving for the first few laps. Often in the Cat 4 and Cat 5 races, racers hit it really hard coming up to corners, and then get around the corner and sit up. This drives me nuts (not that I haven't done it!). I tried to keep things moving throughout the race, including winding it up a little bit after the corners. With some help from some strong riders, like one guy from PBR and the eventual race winner from Setanta, the race was generally fast and fluid throughout. Until it wasn't. More on that later...

The Pro Pedals squad tries very hard to race as a team, and to keep our teammates in mind. So we had a couple of times when we had teammates off the front of the race. At these points, we tried to slow things down a bit in the group so our guy could get away. I spent a fair amount of time patrolling the front of the group while one of my teammates, Ryan, was really far ahead. He spent about 2/3rds of a lap off the front, but eventually the group came around my fat ass and pulled back up to him. It was a good effort though.

Otto, Richie, James -- nearly every one of our riders in the Cat 4 put in a few digs at the front at one point or another.

On the last lap, I tried to get the front of the group moving again. Had a lot of help from other teams, including Westwood and Basecamp riders. Things did move nicely for a while, and we were strung out single-file for a good time. Moving really fast. Then we got on the back side of the course, and things got bunchy again. Unfortunately, I was about four or five rows back in this bunchiness. The last segment of the course, coming up to the finish line, is about a 3-mile stretch. It seemed like everyone on the front of the group did not want to work or move, and was just holding the rest of us back. It seemed like the ones not holding the group back were out over the yellow road line, violating the center-line rule instead. Sort of nerve-wracking.

The slightly-uphilll finish on this course suits me well, but I was way too far back to help any of my teammates or to get a decent placing for myself. I ended up 20th in a field of about 55. Otto gave Jonathan a great lead-out, helping Jon get 3rd place. I was proud of Jonathan for sitting in during this race. It's hard to resist being more active, but sometimes we need to have someone fresh at the end.

Like most weeks, I have the Legs component down. Just can't figure out the right Location to get a win. Someday hopefully the Luck component will come along and it will all work out.

We'll Get 'Em Next Week
And so I'm singing the same song this week that I've been singing nearly all season .... we'll get 'em next week. I didn't do my best yesterday, but next week I may have a better opportunity in the Mount Holly race. I believe it's a closed course, which would mean plenty of room to get around the group when I need to. It would also mean I'll have to come up with a new excuse for next week if I place 20th again!

Still not a bad day for bike riding. Forty miles, 24 mph average. I guess in the end, I'm happy that I can keep up in these races, and I enjoy being out there with my teammates. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.

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The Report from Houston

nobody@vox.com(buzban) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:15:21 -0700

- Air travel not as bad as predicted.
- Room smells like something... fried clams?
- Not so much my kind of city, but the people are top-notch.
- Roach in the shower. Have to laugh. Or cry.
- Some songs make everything okay.
- Two desserts in one night is bad for anybody. Three in a week is just scandalous.
- Thursday evening can't come fast enough.
- If anyone's keeping track, i miss my ~wife more than my bike.

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New Jersey State Road Race Championships 2008

nobody@vox.com(buzban) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:22:34 -0700

Today was a huge day for the Pro Pedals team in the NJ State Road Race Championships. We had racers in nearly all of the categories, including the Pro/1/2/3, Cat 3, Cat 4, Cat 5, and Women's Cat 4.

The state road race is run on a roughly 18-mile course. The P123 does 5 laps, the Cat 3 does 4 laps, the Cat 4 does 3 laps, and both the men's Cat 5 and the women's cat 4 do 2 laps each. It's held in and around Bridgeton NJ. It was hot as hell today, too, and humid. A tough day to do that kind of distance.

One of our former teammates, Ryan, won the Pro/1/2/3. He really deserved it. It's a very hard race, very long (about 85 miles altogether).

In the Cat 3, a great teammate of mine, Steve, tried to break away toward the end, but was caught by the pack. An excellent effort by him and the rest of the group.

I raced the Cat 4 with about 7 or 8 other teammates. A total of about 60 riders started the race, and I'd guess maybe 40 finished. My good friend Caleb won, and I took third (as I did last year). It was a great win, and makes Caleb the cat 4 state road race champion for 2008. Perhaps equally impressive was another teammate, Jonathan, who rode about 25 miles all by his lonesome, way off the front. We did what we could to help him out and hold the group off, but eventually he got caught. Still, he had enough strength left to get back on the front of the group and lead us into the finish. He placed 9th. Very impressive. Beast of the Month impressive.

Overall, we took 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 9th, and perhaps a couple of pack spots in the Cat 4 race. I was very happy to see Caleb win. He's a great rider, and a great guy. Definitely deserves that win. I was also very happy for myself to get 3rd again. I didn't really expect to do great in this race, especially since I've been exhausted this week, and not riding my best. But the course suits me well, and I was at least a little smarter than normal about my position in the group and my racing overall.

After the cat 3 and 4 races were done, Captain Ed, Caleb, myself, and a couple other sat down to watch the remaining races. We were talking about the possibilities and who could possibly win the two remaining races -- the Cat 4 Women's and the Cat 5 Men's were still on the road, and we had riders in each. [We didn't have anyone in the Women's 1/2/3, but we will next year!]

The Men's Cat 5 was next to finish. Another great rider -- another Ryan -- came cranking up the final hill, and won by a few bikelengths. A very convincing win. So two state champions.

But wait... the women's race! The Women's 1/2/3 came in next, very strung out. Riders coming in minutes apart. We clapped for them, and watched the finish, but didn't have any teammates there. Then a few minutes later, the distinctive Pro Pedals jersey appeared, all alone on the horizon. Beth (remember Beth? She's apparently recovered from when I trucked her in April...) had attacked out of the Women's Cat 4 field from 7 miles out... 7 miles before the finish! ... and held off the group to win by at least 75 meters. A third state championship for the Pro Pedals team today.

An absoultely incredible day of racing for our team. Probably the best day of Pro Pedals racing that I've taken part in. I'm so proud to be a part of the team.

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Put those Zipps away, man

nobody@vox.com(buzban) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:31:50 -0700

Aha! Finally, I am vindicated in an international, almost-widely-read venue:

Carbon Wheels. Carbon wheels are for racing! Never under any circumstances should they be brought out on a training ride. Training wheels should be strong and heavy with lots and lots of spokes. Carbon wheels say to the group, I’m not strong enough to do this ride without my $2,000 feather weight wheels. If you have the money to tear up a carbon wheel set on the road, then you’d be better off spending it on a coach who will get you fit enough to keep up with the group ride on regular training wheels.

I've always been scared to ride any wheel with fewer than 28 spokes. At my weight, you don't want to be 20 miles from your car on a pair of race wheels. Our team does have some guys that will run a $2000 set of wheels, even through the winter... My first reaction sometimes is I wish I was that rich. But I don't.

Go read all about Cycling Style Etiquette at Pez . And look for me with my 20-pound wheels.

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Man Tries to Sell His Life

nobody@vox.com(buzban) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:28:18 -0700

So this dude in Australia put his life up for auction on eBay. He was unhappy with the initial results.

"Apologies to all, but I guess there are a lot of bored idiots out there,"

The irony.

By the way, what's the shipping to Indonesia?

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How I spent my summer vacation...

nobody@vox.com(buzban) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:17:53 -0700

Chiggerex

You really can't claim to be a Piney until you've had an encounter with chiggers. I'm now fully initiated. Time to sell the house and move back to civilization...

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Cycles54 Twilight Series, Round 1

nobody@vox.com(buzban) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:13:25 -0700

Last night a contingent of Pro Pedals riders went out to the Cycles54 Twilight Series at First Energy Park in Lakewood NJ. They run two races, the first of which is the category 4/5 race. We had five people in that race, Caleb, Beth, Mike, Ryan, and me. It was still really hot when we started the 4/5 -- I don't know exactly how hot, but it had been about 100dF yesterday, and relatively high humidity. I believe there were 29 starters in our race total, including a fairly big representation from Norwood/Peddlers. The race format a criterium, with an approximately 1-mile lap. It was to be 45 minutes of racing around the loop, plus 3 additional laps.

The Pro Pedals team talked strategy before the race. And we all agreed if we didn't win we'd have to shoot ourselves. We worked like crazy... Everybody got at least a couple of digs in. Beth got our first attack rolling, then Mike and Ryan shortly after. Caleb and I kept things moving too. Somewhere around the 35 minute mark, I went away with a guy from Norwood. I couldn't hold his wheel but a few laps, so I started to drop back. The guys on my team, probably Norwood too, were doing such a good job blocking for me that I had to sit up for quite a while to get caught by the pack.

I rejoined the group, and we did only a mediocre job at bringing the Norwood dude back, but he cracked at the same time. He rode very well while he was out there, but got eaten up.

Our team kept up the attacks until the very end, and strung things out nicely. I put in a very late attack with one lap to go, but it was well-covered by the pack. No problem. Caleb and Ryan went around me, toting a small group that didn't have a prayer against them. Caleb came in first with what the spectators said was a furious sprint. Ryan nailed second, after about a half-lap of hard effort. Beth and I went 9 and 10, and Mike about 13 or 14, I believe.

My soigneur estimates that about 10 or so of the 29 didn't finish... It was hot, and it was fast. All told it was about 20 miles of racing, somewhere above 23mph average.

Having won the first event, Caleb is now the series leader. I wasn't even planning to go back to this race series the next couple of Tuesdays, but now I have to! Below is a pic of the race leader in his jersey.

Caleb leaders jersey

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Hotter than heck in Philly race

nobody@vox.com(buzban) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:08:45 -0700

Wow, was it a hot day for bicycle racing yesterday. The ~wife and I went out to the Philadelphia International Championship today. It was a great race, but it was hot just to watch. Can't imagine racing in the heat we had yesterday, which was mid-90s dF with high humidity.

The women's race was cool to watch. Kristin Armstrong got off the front early, and built up more than a minute advantage. Couldn't hold it though, and eventually got caught. A later break including a handful of High Road riders stuck a while, too. Eventually Chantal Beltman from High Road got away, and stuck it to the end. Brooke Millar from Tibco got second, sprinting away from Ina-Yoko Teutenberg. Nice ride.

As seems to be tradition, there was a break for most of the men's race, and that got caught, and it ended in a bunch sprint. Young dude from CSC launched a long sprint and stuck it. Nice race.

We went out to the Manayunk Wall for a couple of laps, much thanks to Mr. Mambo and his VIP accomondations, and the shuttle bus from Center City to Manayunk that went with it. Below is a pic my ~wife took of the great Maggy Backstedt, who I really admire. He led this lap up the Manayunk Wall, and then later bridged up to the breakaway. Unfortunately he did not finish, and the break was sucked up. Svein Tufts put in a great effort after that, trying to stick a break. It was all very exciting to watch. And hot as hell.

maggy in philly 08

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Thanks, Dave.

nobody@vox.com(buzban) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:30:46 -0700

Night before last the family went to the Dave Matthews Band show at the Camden shed. As always, the band was great, and it was a really good show.

It was supposed to pour all day, so getting just a little bit of rain seemed like a pretty good break. All in all, we didn't suffer. The set list was pretty good, and included some really great cover tunes. The Rolling Stones' Bitch and Neil Young's Hey Hey My My were the encores, and were really great to hear. The musical highlight for me came about the middle of the set though -- The Allman Brothers' Melissa. VERY cool, especially with Tim Reynolds doing the Dicky Betts parts. Definitely my favorite song.

The big surprise came on the way out, though. As we were walking out of the venue, a guy from the Susquehanna center started yelling for everyone to clear off the street. We obliged. A Camden Police squad car came out of the loading dock area, followed by four tour buses. First bus, Dave Matthews was standing in the front stairwell, with the light on overhead, waving through the windshield. Everyone in the area stood roadside and gave him another standing ovation. Two buses later, Carter Beauford (perhaps the family favorite drummer) was doing likewise. We were thrilled to see them up close.

[As an aside, Carter Beauford is my dude. Anybody who has "painted-on dimples," as the ~wife says, is okay with me. The man is constantly smiling, and always having fun. I admire that in anyone.]

Great show guys. Thanks.

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