Saturday morning I went on a leg opening ride with a new hupster Josh. I think the term Leg Opener is totally appropriate because at times you feel that there is limitless potential bubbling within your legs, but you just don't have the right key, or the right combination to set it free. The morning was incredibly cold and I even contemplated turning back home.
Josh and I rode for two hours through the Winch and concord and back. Very mellow and a totally perfect ride. He went home to take his GF bird watching and i went home to do some errands.
Sunday morning, I got off to a slow start and ended up getting to the venue way later than usual.
I looked all around to find the HUPSHIFT tent and was relieved to see Jeff, Matt, Steve, Theo, and many others hanging around and watching some racing. It turns out Jeff and Steve rode super strong and finished quite well and we should be expecting these guys to upgrade to a three after this season....
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Ipod Touch and Cable and Temperpudic
I can die happy now, or I guess I can live happily now that I have the three things every non-peasant should have
Ipod Touch 2G
Cable TV
Tempur-Pedic bed.
Ipod Touch 2G
Cable TV
Tempur-Pedic bed.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Finally, road bike pictures...Fuji Roubaix Team LTD
The first real bike I ever owned was a Fuji-Mt. Fuji. It was bright orange and totally badass. It was a hard-tail non suspension mountain bike. At the time I had $250 for my birthday and I had the choice of buying the Nintendo Cube, or the Mt. Fuji. That is the life decision which has led me to where I am now. Interesting how one small decision like that can carve the direction of your lifestyle for years to come.
Right now I am listening to a song called Paper Planes by M.I.A. I like it alot. Also, I am checking the weather report to see if this weekend will be muddy or not...
Right now I am listening to a song called Paper Planes by M.I.A. I like it alot. Also, I am checking the weather report to see if this weekend will be muddy or not...
Friday, September 5, 2008
Equipment Choices and Modifications
CHAIN GUARD
Recently I modified my chainguard on the Hampsten MudPig to create the following contraption (See below).
The metal guard was bent at a specific angle (42 Degrees) so that it did not rub when the chain is on the 27 or the 12, but also followed the contours of the chainring itself. The set up is pretty sweet or considered "TIGHT" in some circles, and I hope that I don't drop any chains this year like I did at Gloucester last year.
I think if I had a really nice vice and some real tools I could have created something much nicer, but at the time, I could only find a pair of scissors and some pliers. I think Zank should include custom chain deflectors on each of his bikes.
The chain guard is called "Jump Start Chain Deflector" and it can be found at www.cyclocrossworld.com
I love that shop...
http://cyclocrossworld.stores.yahoo.net/justchde.html
TIRES
Currently I have the FMB SSC Sprints that I bought off the Zank on my race bike. They are Tubulars which I glued myself. I drank 3 beers during the gluing process so I would estimate that the process took about 2.5 hours. They are 34 in the front and 32 in the back. I will be using these in most of the races unless it is really muddy, I suppose. I like them a lot and they are super-fast on the flats although they tend to drift on slow corners where I am not leaning enough to use the little nobbies. The more I know how to ride these, the faster I can ride them. I am running 30 psi right now.
This year I am experimenting with some lightweight gear. The Specialized Phenom saddle (~200gms) is very very comfortable, and rock solid, but I question the durability of the hollow Ti rails. The Thomson Masterpiece seatpost is so incredibly light (~160gms), and just so well made.
Recently I modified my chainguard on the Hampsten MudPig to create the following contraption (See below).
The metal guard was bent at a specific angle (42 Degrees) so that it did not rub when the chain is on the 27 or the 12, but also followed the contours of the chainring itself. The set up is pretty sweet or considered "TIGHT" in some circles, and I hope that I don't drop any chains this year like I did at Gloucester last year.
I think if I had a really nice vice and some real tools I could have created something much nicer, but at the time, I could only find a pair of scissors and some pliers. I think Zank should include custom chain deflectors on each of his bikes.
The chain guard is called "Jump Start Chain Deflector" and it can be found at www.cyclocrossworld.com
I love that shop...
http://cyclocrossworld.stores.yahoo.net/justchde.html
TIRESCurrently I have the FMB SSC Sprints that I bought off the Zank on my race bike. They are Tubulars which I glued myself. I drank 3 beers during the gluing process so I would estimate that the process took about 2.5 hours. They are 34 in the front and 32 in the back. I will be using these in most of the races unless it is really muddy, I suppose. I like them a lot and they are super-fast on the flats although they tend to drift on slow corners where I am not leaning enough to use the little nobbies. The more I know how to ride these, the faster I can ride them. I am running 30 psi right now.
This year I am experimenting with some lightweight gear. The Specialized Phenom saddle (~200gms) is very very comfortable, and rock solid, but I question the durability of the hollow Ti rails. The Thomson Masterpiece seatpost is so incredibly light (~160gms), and just so well made.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
NH Training Camp
Here is my HR Profile from our NH Saturday morning cross workout. The course was very flat , with no sharp turns, one shallow sand section and a dangerous chain which I avoided at all costs. This was the perfect venue to really open up to high speeds and hold it for 6-7 minutes. As can be seen from the profile, the first 6 intervals are done really well. On the Seventh one, I cracked halfway through and never recovered. The eighth one started pretty well and I was able to finish strong. It is amazing how much harder you can ride with Simpson's encouragement. I dug pretty deep into my office desk drawer of courage. There I found some pennies and a used band-aid.
Here is Marky Mark giving a short speech about the importance of Chamois Cream. I am not sure what Chip is doing.
Quiet Steve, not to be confused with Naked Steve, is not having any of it.
I am about to go on a run with Steve after the workout. It did not last long.
On Monday, PVB and I went on a pretty great Labor day ride for exactly 3 hours. We had coffee at Bloc 11 and discussed some fundamentally provocative issues relating to the abstract use of Greek mythology in Post Modern Neo-Retro Morman theology.
Here is Marky Mark giving a short speech about the importance of Chamois Cream. I am not sure what Chip is doing.
Quiet Steve, not to be confused with Naked Steve, is not having any of it.
I am about to go on a run with Steve after the workout. It did not last long.
On Monday, PVB and I went on a pretty great Labor day ride for exactly 3 hours. We had coffee at Bloc 11 and discussed some fundamentally provocative issues relating to the abstract use of Greek mythology in Post Modern Neo-Retro Morman theology. 
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