Today I read a little Wallace Stevens and I tuned my bike. And look what popped up via the Starving Artist Cafe:
Aug 142010
Colorado National Monument a death-trap?
Biking, News, Outdoors, Western Slope
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May 232010
I just got through catching up on the news and read an article over at 9news on bicycle traffic at the Colorado National Monument.
Bike traffic appears to be up 31% since 2008. Here’s a quote from the article that has me a little perplexed:
Superintendent Joan Anzelmo tells The Daily Sentinel newspaper in Grand Junction that it’s “beyond belief” that no cyclists have been killed given how heavy traffic is.
Wow, even when there are no problems and bikes and cars manage to peacefully co-exist, someone always seems to want to impose restrictions.
For those not familiar with the Colorado National Monument, it’s not a statue, it’s kind of like a mini Grand Canyon:
It’s also the location of some of the climbing scenes in the “Hell of the West” portion of American Flyers:
It’s a park, not a highway. Eventually, someone will lose control and go shooting over the edge or into traffic, could be a biker or it could be a driver. It will happen. But imposing restrictions probably won’t make any difference. Cars are usually going so slowly there that I’m not sure what restrictions could be imposed that would improve on the 0% death-rate. It’s not a death-trap, so don’t take a good thing and muck it all up. Hopefully the concern is sincere. For my part, I’ll be watching for the “to protect the children” statement that usually follows.
Hmm, improving on a 0% death rate, the only way I can see that happening is if she brings in a Voodoo priest and suddenly we have zombie bikers appearing. If they keep it to a -3.0% rate, that would give plenty of cushion without them eating the brains of too many West Slopers.
Jul 302009
I got all excited when I saw GT has a new single speed for the masses, the “Peace”. Skipping the smart ass comments about the name, I’m not sure I understand the reasoning behind it’s stock build.
Here is a picture and the specs. If you’re not going to put suspension on the thing, why do disc brakes? Lack of braking power was never an issue for me while single-speeding (grunting in agony was, but that’s a different story). The whole retro-grouch thing doesn’t hold water with those brakes on. Pick a theme and stick with it. GT, gimme a simpler one, or one with suspension, and I’ll run out and pick one up.
Jul 142009
A while ago, I worked as a guide/mechanic/barista in a pretty cool bike shop. Our lead mechanic was spot on and actually did time on Le Tour. I trusted him to work on my bikes, and didn’t really hesitate to leave them around the shop.
One day, I got on my fully to make a lunch run. I’d left it there overnight when a storm blew through. He knew that I liked tooling around in big ring/small cog. I made it to the only stoplight in town and did a track stand waiting for the light to change. It changed, I tried to take off and down shift – I ended up going over sideways like a first-timer in cleats. He’d thoughtfully reset the limits on my rear derailleur.
Revenge is best served cold. I needed a plan. It had to be diabolical, and it had to be so simple that there would be no reason for him to look in the “right” place. One of the people in the shop came up with a suitable evil plan to even the score. We waited about a week and then took his beloved road machine, a paperclip, a piece of thread, and a washer. We made a little spring out of the paperclip, attached the piece of thread to it and tied the washer at the end. Said paperclip was then inserted into the seat tube, far enough up that it (and the washer) couldn’t be seen. The key was the length of the thread, short enough not to be seen, long enough to let the washer rest easy on the side of the tube when not in motion.
Of course, he heard it clanging around every time he rode. As soon as the bike was on the stand, the noise would mysteriously disappear. It took him four days to figure out (I thought he’d get it in one). I’ll never forget struggling to keep a straight face as he sat looking thoughtfully at his bike on the stand.
Jun 182009
The Excedrin isn’t cutting it anymore. The Excedrin + Stranahan’s isn’t cutting it anymore. Even the Excedrin + Stranahan’s + Vicodin isn’t cutting it anymore. If you’ve read here for any length of time, you’re probably annoyed with the ride induced headache references I’ve made over the years. I assure you, you’re not nearly as annoyed by it as I am. This time I’ve been trying to fight one off for about 10 days and I’m either high as a kite or having people ask what’s wrong with my face. Sometimes to get where you need to be, you need to be pissed off enough to do the hard thing. I’m heading to the hills in the morning with a very specific intent. To kick off the biggest headache I possibly can. Given the last couple of weeks, that shouldn’t be very difficult.
The last time the headaches were this bad, I went for a CT and killed a Volvo with my Trooper on the way there. No repeat performance of that. I’ve recruited a trusted friend to shepherd me around. I’ve got more capable tests scheduled for Saturday morning, and the headache should be in full bloom by then. Wish me luck, if you don’t hear from me for a while, don’t take it personally.
Simeoni, my book suggestion sounds even better now.
Biking, News, Podcasting, Rant
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Jun 072009
I caught up on cycling news this weekend (again against my better judgement). Not much has changed on the doping front. People get caught and then say, “oh yeah, it’s easy to beat the system.” A blast from the past re-appeared, Simeoni.
I really like this guy. Simeoni could possibly be a tool, he could be a jerk, he could be a drama queen. But he gave the Italian National Champion’s Jersey back! Was he supposed to kiss Armstrong’s ring to be allowed in the Giro? That is one helluva refusal. Panache, that’s what this guy has.
If you are looking for history on the Armstrong/Simeoni feud, here’s a little bit from the Village Voice, and a bit from the archives here.
Given the current state of pro cycling, Simeoni looks like a bright spot.
Tony Ortega of the Village Voice asked a question about this year’s Giro and Le Tour:
Am I the only one who wonders what the hell this comeback was about if Armstrong isn’t going to try winning (sic) any of the big races?
Could it be the scrutiny being applied and his “full access” having been shown to be a bit farcical? Bundle that up with Kohl’s admission of how easy it is to dope, and maybe the chance of getting caught red-handed is the answer.
So, Simeoni, I’m glad to see you are still around, still not taking shit from anyone, and doing it in a grandiose manner. My suggestion still stands, write that book! I still like my idea for a title: No, Really, It’s About the Bike.
Apr 192009
…I was staying away from Cycling News. Hamilton positive, Armstrong dodging testers. It’s become a sick, tired joke. There are only so many times you can listen to the same thing again and again without losing the capability to believe a word that’s said.
Apr 162009
…and it’s bust. A winter storm warning is in place and even with my new super snow machine, I don’t think the drive will be anywhere near reasonable enough to make it to the other side of the mountains. No Mike the Headless Chicken or ‘Tater this weekend.
It’s probably a good thing, I am really, really tired.
Oct 162008
You know, I can’t help myself, I keep going to Cycling News to see what’s going on, despite my better judgment. Maybe it’s the Giro and not the Tour next year for Armstrong.
Here’s a quote from Lance about him appearing in Le Tour next year:
“Everybody knows about its importance but there are the problems with the organisers, journalists and fans. This could be detracting from my main goal, the global awareness of the fight against cancer.” – Cycling News
Mr. Armstrong, the trouble isn’t with the journalists or fans. The organizers, well, I can see that. But the real trouble is that the sport that gave you a worldwide stage is dying. The sad thing is that it is dying by its own hand. What’s worse than that — all we hear from you is, “I never tested positive.” I really don’t care that you never tested positive. I’ve never been arrested for peeing in alleys. Who cares? At some point, you’ve got to stop worrying about recriminations.
How about stepping up to the plate, along with that guy you seem to loathe, Greg LeMond, and help get some real changes made? The two greatest American riders and the bankroll and press that follow would be hard to ignore. It would be like Superman and the Batman working together. Hell, you can even be Superman since we know for a fact that Greg isn’t bulletproof.
Are you going to tell me that the two of you and all the resources you could bring together couldn’t put together a plan (between kicking each other in the sack) that would make it infinitely harder to dope? He seems to be stepping up, in his Dark Knight fashion. You seem to be backing off. Don’t leave Batman alone while he tries FTW. Hell, bring back all the old Posties to get it done and turn it into the Justice League, just not this Justice League.
Oct 112008
Greg LeMond, if he’s crazy, he’s my kind of crazy. Go get them Greg. The list of riders returning to the peloton looks like the mafia coming home to Sicily: Armstrong, Vino, Basso, Hamilton, Landis. The shadow of doping hangs heavy over this crowd. What should be done about it?
“It should be up to a group like WADA. The riders just want to know that they can trust the system – that’s all. If a crime’s a crime, you’re going to get busted. Cycling is so black and white when it comes to watts and we can have that data now – it’s not a mystery. Last year there were climbers doing 450 watts but weighing 58-60kg – that’s nearly 8 watts per kilo. That’s impossible – unless we’ve all had some kind of genetic mutation over the past 15 years.” – Greg LeMond Cycling News
The return of these riders creates an atmosphere where others in the peloton are going to scratch their heads and say, “To have a chance, I’m going to have to fudge it a bit.” And off to the races, so to speak.
LeMond’s ideas make sense, why do they not make sense to the Cosa Nostra of cycling? Sadly, I think that question probably answers itself.