There are few things I enjoy more than super sweet bikes. Rock N’ Road Cyclery is where I’m purchased my super sweet bikes for the last 5 years. Right now get the best deals of the year on 2008 closeout bikes along with free holiday lay-a-way ($100 down at a time baby!). Their inventory levels are the best of the year and they have all the latest 2009 bikes from Specialized in stock including the new Epic and new dura-ace Tarmacs. Crap, I love bikes!
A few weeks back while riding my mountain bike at Whiting Ranch, the original MTB saddle and post on my bike cracked in half. I’d like to think it wasn’t from the excessive weight of my stout manly frame but I know the truth. It came out of nowhere and just snapped leaving me to ride the next five miles standing up. Then, later in the week I crashed on my road bike at 30 MPH and tore my road saddle and hip to shreds, it was great week. After some research I picked up 2 saddles from SDG.
Since that time I’ve fallen in love with the company and their products. Everything they do is:
1. Easy to install and size. I did everything myself and I’m a tool weenie.
2. Looks great! Both my road and mountain set-ups are pretty much the best ever. They kill anything Old Man Sellers could ever muster up from his vintage collection of 1993 vintage mountain bikes.
3. Is super comfy but with high performance. I race*
The boys at SDG Saddles recently posted their 2009 bike saddles and seat posts catalog. It’s worth the click, these guys know how to build bike product.
If you’re in the market for a new post or saddle SDG is who you should be supporting. They love cyclists and the local biking community needs to back that.
Saturday morning I got up early, dressed quietly, made my lunch, grabbed the dog, slipped quietly into the garage to hook the boat up to the truck, and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour.
The wind was blowing 50 mph. I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad throughout the day.
I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed. There I cuddled up to my wife’s back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, “The weather out there is terrible.”
My loving wife of 20 years replied, “Can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?”
I still don’t know if she was joking, but I’ve given up fishing.
Two nights ago Julie gave me a pass to go and spin my legs on the road bike. Riding consistency is out but riding when I get the chance is in. I quickly took her up on the offer and headed out after work to meet her in Irvine for some dinner. Cruising along rockin out to my iPod I rolled past a dude dialed in with a Rock Racing kit and bike set-up. I’m intrigued and slowly begin to stock him. If you know me, you know I love the Rock Racing team. He was fixing something on his bike so I waited for him on the path.
As he rolled by I glanced at him like I wanted to talk. He pulled out his ear buds and we proceed to ride together for the next 5 miles. My new BFF is a pro racer by the name of Austin Carroll. In between the awkard moments of me almost crashing and asking prying questions he was truly a super nice dude. I think I was star struck as this was the first pro I had ever met. The conversation was fun, I asked him questions about Rock Racing, Floyd Landis, racing in Europe (he leaves to race on Saturday), training, being a pro, etc. The stuff you want to ask but never get the chance. We have an interview planned for when he returns from Europe.
Last weekend I was able to enjoy a great ride through the streets of DC.
BikeDC was organized to benefit the Washington Area Bike Association, and was extremely well done. Not often are you able to ride unrestricted through Washington streets. Normally you’re dodging the overly agressive cab drivers or negotiating the huge pot holes while trying not to hit the Washington elites yelling at their interns on their blue tooths.
But not so this day. This day we had an all access pass to some of the most beautiful streets in all of Washington. And I must say it was rather gratifying having Metro PD halting some seriously ticked Washingtonians while riding down Pennsylvania Ave. It was also gratifying to be riding my brand new Specialized Hardrock Sport, despite some minor technical difficulties.
After the ride, I decided that I really need to start getting more involved with WABA. According to their web site, “the mission of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association is to create a healthy, more livable region by promoting bicycling for fun, fitness, and affordable transportation; advocating for better bicycling conditions and transportation choices for a healthier environment, and educating children, adults, and motorists about safe bicycling.” Not to mention the fact that on Sunday they offered a free Bike Valet service to bikers at the Crafty Bastards art festival. I’ve never valeted my bike before, but I could definitely get used to it.
Recently, Marten Ryerson from Team RideClean and I have been conversing about how our two organizations can work together. Right now we have NO idea what that looks like and I don’t really care. If we can help to share their message I’m happy. “Team RideClean is a Cat 1 - 2 cycling team that exists to promote clean sport, facilitate discussion of this topic and support clean athletes through an organization of solidarity. The team was originally founded to promote clean cycling with the hope of reconnecting the discouraged and disillusioned with the romanticism and pureness of our beautiful sport.” This is a purpose statement I can get excited about.
Our friends at Fluid Recovery are the official recovery drink for the team and Outside All Day wants to do everything we can to promote their cause and help get the word out.
Road N’ Road Diva Night with guest speaker Amber Neben
Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 7:30pm
Hosted at Rock N Road Irvine
Thye have a very special evening planned. GREAT raffles (someone will walk away with a new bike), VERY special pricing, Amber Neben will be speaking, and we’ll be raising money for a great cause…
Doors open at 7:00 and the program will begin at 7:30.
Click below to see the flyer with all the details:
The new Electronic Shimano Dura-Ace is one of the most impressive pieces of product developed for 2009. This is going to be one of the most important developments in cycling that will take equipment to a whole new world. After the long drive back home the Outsideallday group has decided we absolutely need the new Electronic Dura-Ace. However, we were not the only people excited or obsessive about the new Dura-Ace as there were hordes of people around the sample bike all day waiting for their turn to ride, photograph, and drool over this shifting progression.
The best way to explain to people the feeling of the new Dura-Ace electronic shifting is by comparing it to the electronic hand towel dispensers in public restrooms, as you place your fingers in front of the shifters and start to apply pressure (very minimal amounts) the shifters begin to work. They just shift up or down as you please and their is no finessing the chain into a gear. This system is going to take some great mechanic skills otherwise it will shift as asked whether that is into a gear or between two gears.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Bike maker Craig Calfee has found a way to grow bicycle frames in a field, with sunlight and water. He makes them out of bamboo. “It’s like bonsai basically,” said Calfee, who is based in Santa Cruz, California. “If you grow it in the shape you want it, it’s by far the strongest way to get it in the shape you want it.” He’s been making bamboo bikes for awhile now, but because each bicycle is made to order, his workshop can turn out only limited numbers of the $2,700 frames.
Life has been a little hectic lately and blogging has taken the back burner for the last 30 days. My world revolves around family and work and the rest is getting pushed aside. Our newest, Landon turned 30 days old today. Most of the time he’s great but sometimes he’s a pain in my neck. I’ve figured out a trick to calm him down when he is screaming bloody murder in my ear. I place him in the Baby Bjorn and bounce on the exercise ball for as long as necessary. I’m not sure if his is helping my core and my back is killing me!
Speaking of core, the boy’s at Amateur Endurance have an incredible article with full pictures up on a daily stretching routine that looks really legit.
As noted in my last article on the (debatable) benefits of stretching, I stretch on a near daily basis to keep things loose. My daily stretch routine usually takes me about 30 minutes, and I try to do it shortly before bed in a quiet room with minimal noises to help relax me before hitting the pillow.
So I was just checking out my favorite DC blog when I stumbled upon all sorts of great bike happenings coming up in the month of September. First off is the ING Direct Capital Criterium.
“Sure, most of us won’t get to ride the 1 km course, but watching will more than make up for it. And if you don’t think any of the big guns will show, think again — yesterday news hit that Christian Vande Velde, an American who placed fifth in the Tour de France, will be racing alongside his Garmin-Chipotle teammates. The course layout is perfect for public viewing, and considering that DDOT is repaving Pennsylvania Avenue ahead of the 2009 presidential inauguration, it’ll be a fast race.”
Second, and more my pace, is Bike DC on September 27. One of the most frustrating parts about trying to bike in the district is dodging the cars/trucks/pedestrians/politicians/etc, so the lure of obstacle free roadways is very enticing. Add to that what seems to be a laid-back vibe (“Bike DC is a ride, not a race”) and the beauty of our glorious city, and you’ve got the perfect morning.
Source: www.bicycling.com
AUSTIN, September 9, 2008 (AFP) - U.S. cycling icon Lance Armstrong said on Tuesday he will return to professional cycling in 2009 and try to win an eighth Tour de France crown.
“I am happy to announce that after talking with my children, my family and my closest friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden,” Armstrong said in a statement, while in an exclusive interview posted on vanityfair.com the 36-year-old cyclist says he has his sights set firmly on the Tour de France in 2009.
Lance Armstrong will come out of retirement next year to compete in five road races with the Astana team, according to sources familiar with the developing situation.
Armstrong, who turns 37 this month, will compete in the Amgen Tour of California, Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia, the Dauphiné Libéré and the Tour de France — and will race for neither salary nor bonuses, the sources, who asked to remain anonymous, told VeloNews.
We are four weekends away from Scott Tinley’s Adventures Weekend and I am so excited it that I think I should get a new bike. Excitement about race = new bike. Is everyone in agreement on this? Well good. Now here are the details for you to join us at Lake Lopez in early October:
Let me set the stage for you. Beautiful sunrise. Breakfast is already digesting. If you have camped at Lake Lopez - you roll out of your bag and walk over to registration. If you put yourself up at the Madonna Inn or another fine Central Coast establishment then you enjoy an amazing drive through the Big Arroyo. Mist on the SLO County Lake. Gear out on your towel. Bike tuned. You are ready to rock.
A love note to Matt Ford, I would love to be a ginny pig for this…please, please, please,
In other Rock N Road news it sounds like the 2009 Specialized Roubaix road bikes are in stock. In terms of things I love it would go Julie, Carter/Landon, my Roubaix road bike, my mom, my friends, etc. Sheek and Old Man Sellers make the list but are toward the bottom.
Happy riding, running, hiking, camping, swimming and more this week!
September 1, 2008 “I am pleased to announce that the Specialized and Team Saxo Bank will join forces starting with the 2009 racing season,” said Mike Sinyard, President and Founder of Specialized. “Bjarne (Riis) and I have been talking about working together for years. It is a natural relationship based on parallel visions and values. Both Specialized and Team Saxo Bank are extremely driven and aim to be the best in our respective fields. Our cooperation will enable each of us to achieve more than ever before.”
Click here to read more and to see photos of the new team bike and shoes.
I’m curious what happened with the relationship between Cervelo Bikes and Saxo Bank. Probably just money.
This is something to consider and its for a great cause. It starts in Huntington (the place I put the hurt on Old Man Sellers last time we rode) and ends in San Diego.
Formerly called the MS 150 or MS Bike Tour, the Bike MS event is a charity bike tour benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society that offers three different route options:
- NEW IN 2008! a one-day 30-mile route starting and finishing in Carlsbad,
- or a two-day 100- or 150-mile route starting in Irvine, Ca. (Orange County) and finishing in San Diego, Ca. with an overnight stay and festival in Carlsbad.
Registration is limited and has sold out the last four years! You can bike to finish MS by registering today!
In this month’s issue of Outside Magazine there’s a great article on my favorite non-profit Project Rwanda. The article is about a trip the author took with Tom Ritchey in the fall of 07′ to Rwanda and highlights my good buddy Doug Grant (co-founder of 50 Mile Ride). The article revolves around the Wooden Bike Classic that Tom hosts. The magazine is worth picking up for this article alone.
Another great article on their website called “The World’s Toughest Bike Race Is Not in France”. I read it in the July issue and loved it, great read. Click here to check it out.
