Saturday, December 31
Friday, December 30
Fear, Complexity, Environmental Management in the 21st Century
good old Michael Crichton...
but hey... T3.. just watch T3... you cant stop the future you can only survive it...
Wednesday, December 28
Tuesday, December 27
Salton Sea
this is a nice site about the salton sea.. its near where i live and i drove by it on my way to san fillipe mexico where there is no war on chistmas and i can get 2 grubbin good shrimp tacos, beans and rice, and fixins for 2 dollars... on the gulf of california...
the salton sea was a dry lake bed that served as a natural overflow for the colorado river over the centuries... it was most recently filled when poorly built irrigation canals carrying water from the colorado river over ran their levies and flooded the basin...
Friday, December 23
NPR : Update: Congolese Refugee Joshua Dimina
this is a really nice story... and i was really touched by his appreiation of peace in america... i cant imagine what really it would be like to live in a war zone... but it must not be fun... i have heard that it in fact sucks...
they do live ordinace testing here and even though the bombs explode 20 miles away on the other side of a 4000 foot mountain range i can hear and feel them like its next door... there also is the sound of low flying military helicopters and jets too every now and again... to me its not scary.. but i can imagine... at superweek there was a big airshow and the blue angels flew their f-18s really low over the the city for 2 days... it was cool.. but then it got annoying... and then it dawned on me that to some people that was the sound of death... frightening... it wouldnt be fun to hear that sound for days on end and then hear the bombs with it that i know from living here...
in the congo though.. you dont get those sounds i wouldnt think... probably a lot of small arms fire and smaller explosions.. and probably a lot of screaming and yelling... i saw a movie on pbs about the congo and the types of conflicts that they have had... some guys come to your villiage one day and dont say much.. then a week later they happen by again but kill everyone... and the kids they dont kill they carry off with them and force them to become soldiers at 8 years old...stuff like that...
well.. merry christmas!...
Wednesday, December 21
sack up activists- MALCOLM X
he was the face of the nation of islam from 1953 to 1964.. but more importantly he is an icon of the black nationalist movement and he was known as the "angriest man in america"...
just in general the enormous sack that you had to have to go out in public calling BS on the status quo in such a dangerous time must have weighed a ton.. he probably had a bad back...
this big sack was swung in the face of the nation when he refused to show the requisite sadness and hopelessness over the assassination of JFK.. he let his disdain for a racist american state be known... "chickens coming home to roost" he called it... and it was true.. the conspiracy, secrecy and violence of the state and american society came back around and bit it in the ass... its true that you reap what you sow... and malcolm x had the sack to call it...
an ongoing sack up of his early years was the call for a separate black nation... rather than begging for a piece of your pie, we will just go ahead and bake our own... we dont want any of your handouts thank you... SACK folks.. thats sack...
even though he mellowed the rhetoric later on, he never abandoned the "do for self" mantra of personal responsibility and empowerment...
so obviously he was a guy that didnt give a flying fuck cuz he knew he was right... but as if all this other mess wasnt enough he began to make efforts to call INTERNATIONAL BULLSHIT on the racist policies of the USA... he was rallying international support to bring the case of american black folks to the united nations... this is at the same time that apartheid is being internationally condemned... thats like having nuclear balls...
Malcolm X is an inspiration to many americans because he was unafraid to speak out and organize people who previously had no collective power for political action or for self-preservation against an openly racist, insecure, and aggressive society who used state power to instill fear in the black population and to subjugate its own citizens...
he was a man for his times with a huge sack...
Tuesday, December 20
Slove and Nad-Boy, Part II - the WTO Protest
But what many do not know is that Slover and his pard were rockin' the protest at the WTO this past weekend - where they're so big they need their own posse of armored bodyguards to beat off the nubile young fans:
Slover's still trying to figure out why the saftey goggles weren't working for him though...
i race ALL bikes
i race ALL bikes...
and BMX too in NC in the summer
sack up presidents- THEODORE ROOSEVELT
theodore roosevelt was a sack up president... he saw the president as a "steward of the people" and that guided his executive philosophy... he was an ardent believer in the idea that the strong were morally obligated to protect the weak and bring about peace in the world... he put his personal stamp of authority on things with his style... he sacked up and took executive power in new directions.. if the law didnt say he couldnt he figured that it meant he could... and he did so in the name of the public good...
old teddy sacked it right up and broke up big business trusts and reigned in the power of big business by creating the dept of labor and pursuing anti-trust law suits aggressively... he brought us also the the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act for consumer protection, and the Federal Employers' Liability Act for Labor... not to mention the national parks system which I personally enjoy every day...
he is recognized as the original sack up president... "yeah.. i'm teddy and i can do that... watch the fuck out..."
he was so tough that during a speech he was shot and exclaimed "he pinked me!"... teddy refused to go to the hospital and continued to deliver his address... with a bulet in his chest...
Monday, December 19
i love moutain biking
Maxim sports nutrition is a dutch company...
Friday, December 16
ok...
the bottom line is that i dont trust authorty... i wonder what the hell happened to the good old-fashion republicans who mistrusted government authority and were more libertarian than they are the days... people have just gone crazy...
there was a good debate about related issues on TO THE POINT a few days back... it was more about torture regulation.. but the ideas also could be applied to holding folks responsible for secret police type actions- which, by the way are contrary to the tenants of a free and open society... duh...
Wednesday, December 14
sound familiar?... seriously.. i so called this shit in france a long time ago...
this story came up on NPR and its so funny to me.. its in the music for sure.. its a social barometer...
but i am a little dissapointed that they didnt mention NTM one of the greatest rap acts ever on any continent...
Monday, December 12
sarah hammer is my favorite girl biker...
sweet revenge after she had been dumped and ignored by the feds... it all began at nats this past august where she won the pursuit with a time that would have been a silver medal at worlds...
the tire damage is unimpressive... so i wont bother with a photo
yeah... new today...
Sunday, December 11
ok...
so i am driving off road up this canyon to get a bunch of rocks for my yard and on the way back i see this trail that goes up and off over a rise and i think... cool... i'll check that out.. so its a good crawl over the rise and then it goes down into a valley that looks pretty boring so i make a u turn at the top... at this point i realize that something ist right with the truck so i stop and get out and the right rear tire is mangled pretty good and off the rim.. and the rim is gouged up pretty good too... the trail was full of sharp ass rocks and i figure i must have torn the side wall...
so i go to change the tire and the spare is flat too... last month i told her that her spare was low and she said she would put air in it.. but i guess she didnt, or maybe the spare had a leak... she goes driving on these trails all the time so i didnt think that she would let it slip her mind... its pretty important to have a spare with air in it... i should have checked it myself...
so i have to unload all the cool ass rocks that i got so i can drive home on the flat tire... its sort of getting dark and i think that this would realy suck if i had to do it at night... i am looking at a 20 minute drive home with a flat tire the first 500 feet of which is down the rock strewn pitch that i just came up... but this time its on a flat tire... i am thinking that i just have to keep the tire on the rim and i will be fine.. so i go down as easy as i can and i adjust the right mirror so that i can see the tire and make sure it doesnt go off the rim.. if it does i will just have to stop and walk because i dont want to destroy the rim as i probably already destroyed the first one...
so yeah... 500 feet of rocky crawling on a flat and then i can drive the wash almost all the way home... the sandy wash will be easy on the flat tire... so i make it down to the wash that runs the narrow canyon- i am relieved.... but i forgot how far it was out of the canyon and there were a few serious cataracts in the wash where i had to get out and move some rocks and try to smooth out a path that was less dangerous for the flat tire.. but i got that done and made it out of the canyon into the wide soft sandy wash that goes almost all the way to my house... there is maybe 800 meters of pavement to my house after that...
when i got home i took the tire off and took it to get air and it held... so yeah... she didnt ever put air in it when i told hger it was low... i was worried that i wore through the side wall but i didnt... but i did put a nice ring around the sidewall that shows through to the threads... so tomorrow i am going to take the busted up rim and see if its toast or not... i am for sure going to need 2 tires and maybe a new rim.. so that was a costly trip...
photos tomorrow...
Saturday, December 10
why does kool and the gang suck now?
they should have never gotten a singer... they just should have kept jammin their instruments... they jammed so hard that they even put out some disco songs and they didnt suck... but as soon as they started doing lame songs like "too hot" and "ladies night" the wheels just fell right off... "celebration" was the sound of the kool and the gang funky bus grinding down on the axles and transfer case then bursting into flames killing all abord...
Friday, December 9
Thursday, December 8
Tim Johnson...
I'll try my damndest. It's going to be a wide-open race and I really couldn't tell you who's a shoe-in.
JP is really good in bad mud i hear.. and i guess you are good in the snow... so does snow beat mud in the dry?... or is wells or somebody like that gonna wipe the floor with all you guys?...
JP is totally at home in the bad stuff. He's always been really good in deep, dark mud. He's a powerful rider that just rips it up. Snow beat Mud? I'm a big fan of snowy racing where it really makes a difference whether or not you can handle your bike and put your power to the ground. I'm out gunned by a lot of other riders and I need to equalize things to compete. Wells is a huge threat on race day. He's got really good skills, good power and he's motivated. Those three things make a good cross racer.
i like that you have the kind of mental approach where you take into account your weaknesses and look for ways to turn the race to your strengths... thats the key i think.. and its something that big riders think of that other riders dont... when you are thinking of winning any race at any level where things are competitive you have to think that way...
i asked trebon this also...is cross financially viable as a specialization yet?... it looks good and there is a lot of coverage.. but i wonder if its all hype...
Cross is not financially viable as a stand-alone discipline in the states. It's great to make some cash in the (off)season. I hate to put cross in a phrase like that. It's so much more exciting than so many races that we do on the road all year, so I hate to denigrate it. It's not all hype, there are companies realizing just how much exposure that they can get by sponsoring a good cross rider. Our sponsors like Louis Garneau, came in to support Lyne and I and have only be blown away at how great it's been for them. We've given them pictures in all the mags and online the entire fall. To try and buy exposure like that would cost a ton of money.
If Brady(Kappius?) wants to be a cross rider only, then he needs to spend a few more years getting older(physically mature, mentally mature) here in the states racing anything that he can get his hands on(mtb, road, track whatever). When he's about 23,24 or 25 he can start learning how to do it. The only advice that I really want to give any young rider is that while he's a junior or U23, staying in the sport is the only important thing. To win or lose, 1 race or a whole season doesn't really matter. It's a hard sport and alot of his peers will be done racing by the time they could actually expect to compete with the best in the country and world. Patience is the key and have fun.
good answer... i think people tend to expect too much of younger riders... and its true you dont get good until later...
in cycling news you said: "there were a lot of things that made me think that I didn't want to ride anymore"... what things were those?.. you have always struck me as a guy who is just giddy with joy to ride a bike... you sound like me when you say things like that...
You're right. I love to ride my bike, as hokey as that sounds. The reason why I got into this sport is that I liked to challenge myself and I also liked to be around my friends in the sport. When you're racing at a super-high level, like Div 1, where the only thing that matters 24/7 is how
strong you are, then it's not all that much fun. Plain and simple. I'm not talking about riding like crap and not giving a shit if I or my team wins, it's the luxury of being able to switch back and forth. Needing to have fun, might be considered a weakness, but it's one of my necessities. I know I'm not the only rider out there who feels that way. I also know that racing in the US on the NRC circuit or at our biggest races (Georgia, California) it's possible to switch back and forth. That's why I'm psyched to race here.
also... i wanna interview ceslav too.. whats his e mail?
WHo??? Czeslaw? The little Polish guy? Lives in Canada? Don't know his email or if he has one!
Wednesday, December 7
Ryan Trebon... he is a nice guy i think...
in the begining it seemed like you were just doing cross for something to do after the norba series... but now you are more known as a cross rider than a mountain biker... you are in europe and devoting more than it seems you put into the norba season... are you now a full blown cross specialist?...
It is funny it seems not matter how good results I have Mtnbiking I never seem to get the same coverage as I do for CX, and that is why I think people associate me more as being a Crosser than a mtnbiker, which is fine with me because I am starting to put more cyclocross than I have before and I think it is an area where I want focus on.I went to Europe this year because I felt that is what I need to do to develop further as racers, and I belive it paying off big time. You cant subsitute the experience you get over there
you for sure have made a huge impact on cross in the US... much more than on the mountain bike side... i am sure that in the begining it had a lot to do with the smaller level of competition in cross, but these days it seems like on the high end the level in cross is even more competitive than in norba... it seems like you got in at a time when cross was more open and you rode the swell and developed along with the cross scene to now being an A rider in this current time when things are much tighter and tougher than 3 or 4 years ago... maybe you are just suited to cross but also you have had a nice scene to develop in as a rider.. respond
This is only my 3rd year racing CX and the same competitors that were racing then are still racing now, I dont think the level overall has gone up much, I think there are 2 to 3 people that are now focusing more on CX, but if you look at the results it is still the same 5 people finish on the podium everyweekend. So I dont think there is the depth of competition yet. But you know the sport in general is growing fast but I dont know why more top-end MTBers, and roadies dont do some cyclocross during the winter, I mean who needs a break from sept 14- Feb. 1. Lazy folks
is cross in the US viable?... can a young rider commit to cross and specialize and expect to support himslef?... or is there only room for a few full-time crossers and the rest have to race road or mountain as well...
The honest answer is no. I wish more younger riders would focus on it, but to do that you have to race in Europe there is no way around it. Take for instance Jeremy Powers, not many people now about him here because he races cross solely in Europe during the winter. But Jeremy has 10X the experience as many of the top riders in the US because he has done things the hard way and raced in Europe and the experience is gonna pay off so much when he starts to develope more as a rider. But it is like taking 3 steps back to take 1 foward. But the sport is growing fast in the US, so maybe in 3-5yrs it will be at a level where it is viable to make at living at.
after racing over in europe are you getting the kind of experience that is gonna pay-off big time?...
definetly, nothing else compares to do the biggest races and battling it out with all the best riders in the World week in and week out. I am starting to feel more confident and comfortable racing over there
so how about that brady?... digging up a photo of you falling on your ass like that.. are you gonna ball him up when you see him?... this is one of the kids that wants to give it a go in cross... what do these guys need to do to be good?
That shit makes me laugh man, I love it when young rider talk shit with and to older riders, because I was the same way. But yes, he is still gonna get kicked in the nuts when I see him this weekend for that. If Brady and others really want to improve, they have to start focusing on cross and work on CX specific stuff, and continue using the opportunities like Geoff Proctor camps to the fullest and really try and learn and absorb all they can while they are there.
asses yourself vis-a-vis your competition for nationals this weekend.. i think this is important to do when you are at a high level... what does TJ have that makes him dangerous?... McCormick?... Page?... in what ways are you better than them?... how can you contain their strengths?... how can you make them race your race?
you know I feel Ten times stronger this year than I did last year, not only physically but better mentally prepared. There are some good racers coming this weekend, but with a little luck(I havent had much lately) I don't see any reason why I couldn't win on saturday. With that said I think it is gonna be a 3 man race this weekend, but I wont tell you which 3.
obviously you are a top rider anf i think you can win nationals... but what ambitions do you have in europe as a cross rider?... do you see yourself becoming a big rider against the world's best?
I really want to focus on racing CX in europe, I think I have the fitness to compete with them, but I really lack the experience and the technique right now to consistenly be at the front of the races. But it is coming just you wait
will you continue also road racing?... what would it take to get you to drop mtb and do road and cross?
Yes, I am definetly racing on the Road again next year with AeroSpace again, as far as the future.. That I dont know right now. I am trying to figure out what is best for me, but one thing that I am thankfull for is that I do have options right now and support by some awesome people.
Tuesday, December 6
Sunday, December 4
Brady Kappius...
ok...
brady kappius.. you are one of the TIAA-Cref grommets... and you are on
your way to ride two world cups and maybe worlds too... you are a rider
for the future...
so what is your schedule going to be like day to day?.. are you gonna
live in noel's garage?...
Yep, I'm headed over to Europe in a few weeks. I will hopefully be able to race in the World Cups. There are only 5 spots and there are 7 U23's headed over, so if I'm doing good, I think I will get to race. Its all up to Geoff Proctor (The US cross team coach and the man behind the euro camp). If nationals goes well next week, I might even go to worlds. Not something I was really thinking about at the beginning of the season being a first year U23, but I would be ecstatic if I went.
Here is the race schedule:
12/24/05 Sat
1hr 30
Belgium
Diegem
Cat 1 SP
Juniors; U-23; Elite Men
12/26/05 Mon
Belgium
Hofstade
WCS
Juniors (but we probably won’t do this with juniors); U-23; Elite Men (WCS for Elite Men only)
12/28/05 Wed
Belgium
Loenhout
Cat1GVA
Juniors; U-23; Elite Men
12/31/05 Sat
Belgium
Hooglede
WCS
Juniors, U-23; Elite Men
01/02/06 Mon
Belgium
Sint-Niklaas
Cat 2
Elite and U-23 Men together
01/04/06 Wed
Holland
Surheisterveen
Cat 2
Elite and U-23 together, Juniors
I get to the USA Cycling house in Izegem, Belgium on the 22nd. It is not really Noel's garage, it is actually a pretty sweet deal. Each room has some bunk beds in it and a TV. There are a few crazy European toilets and a bathroom with a series of showers.
It looks like I will do up to 6 races. The days are pretty routine.
Wake up around 8-9 am, grab some breakfast downstairs in the kitchen. Usually some cereal, yogurt, banana, and a rice pudding. Depending on the race time and location, we will leave sometime in the morning. We pack up our lunch and head off in the caravan to the race. Once we get to the race, we pick up our number and suit up to go ride a few laps of the course. If the course is muddy we will grab our other bike and finish warming up on that one then switch back at the start. Then we race against all the crazy euro dudes. After the race we head home, clean up and eat some dinner. In the evening we usually screw around, watching the euro trash music videos. Then repeat.
where did you come from?... why are you a cross racer?... do you have any ambitions on the road or do you only think of cross?
I started racing when I was 4. I did all the kids races at the MTB races my dad did. I never really took it too seriously until about 5 years ago. I would usually just go screw around on my bike, doing jumps and sweet stuff like that. My roots are in mountain biking, and I did the cross races in the fall on my MTB.
In 2002 I was still racing cross on my MTB. I placed 3rd in C's race as a 15 year old. In 2003, I started racing in the B's with my first cross bike. By the end of the season I upgraded to the A's. 2003 was my first year going to cross nationals. Because worlds is in January of the next year, they take the next years racing age, so I raced in the 17-18's. I ended up 4th in the super muddy conditions. I was amazed at how well I did. It was one of the best races of my life, I was just in the zone.
I was hoping to go to worlds that year, but USA Cycling's crazy selection procedures left me out. They expect juniors to go travel the country collecting UCI points, but at the race that everyone is at, nationals, they only take 2 of the top 5 to worlds. Last year, I had my sights set on worlds. I was able to travel to all the US Grand Prix races (the worlds selection series) with the help of my team - TIAA-CREF / Clif Bar. I ended up 4th in the series then took 3rd at nationals.
I went to the camp last year and had a great time over in Belgium. I learned a lot about racing in Europe. I earned a spot on the worlds team with my strong season. Worlds was a great experience, but the race itself sucked. I had a lot of bad luck including a crash in the first 10 meters. This season I came with the goal of making it to the euro camp again. With some awesome races in California a couple of weeks ago, I earned my spot and ended up 4th in the USGP series. So here I am.
I also race on the road and mountain bike too. Right now, I would say that cross is what I excel at, but I am not kicking road or mountain biking out the door yet. I still love riding my bike, no matter which one it is.
as a young kid do you respect the top US riders?... obviously they are faster than you.. but are you the kind of bad ass kid that looks right through those guys like they are nothing because you have your sights set on Nijs?...
I have a lot of respect for guys like Trebon, Wicks, and Page. I got to spend last year in Belgium with Trebon and Wicks, they are super cool guys. For Page and Trebon to dedicate themselves to cross and living over there and racing deserves a lot of respect. That is something I hope to do when I get older. The difference is I want to be fighting for the win, not fighting to get a top 10. We will see what happens, I still have a lot of time to get there. I have 6 years till I'm Trebon's age
and 11 years till I catch up to Page. That is a lot of time to get better!
Also, if anybody wants to help my teammates and I pay for the trip to Europe, you can donate here - http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?EventID=2869
am i paraphrasing or are you saying that tree farm and page suck and that they barely make the top ten and when you are elite you are going to be fighting out the win?...
I am not saying that Tree Farm sucks, but he needs to work on those technical skills. like what the hell is this shit -
http://www.printroom.com/ViewgalleryPhoto.asp?userid=abbiorca&gallery_id=297305&image_id=31
You building a frickin sand castle?
So... i'll leave it at that.. and we will see what tree farm has to say about playing in the sand box... so if anybody wanted to follow your exploits do you have a website or something?....
Here is the site for our blog - http://eurocrossers.blogspot.com/ It will be up and running soon.
Friday, December 2
oh yeah...
and a new website too...
back to work...
Tuesday, November 29
thanks...
coffee puck conservation
very gourmet...
Monday, November 28
How to beat the man and his evil machine empire!
from Paul English:
The term IVR stands for "Interactive Voice Response", the fancy name for annoying computers who answer most phones these days.
Frustrated? How about when you call your phone company and they ask for your phone number? Or when your bank asks you to type in your credit card or ATM number, and then when you finally get a human on the phone, they ask you to tell them again. Hello, don't I pay *you* guys money?
The problem with most big companies is they hire non-strategic bean counters to run customer service as a cost center, and those executives get paid based on costs not based on customer loyalty and revenue. Guess what? If you don't talk to your customers, they won't be loyal to you, they won't come back, they won't recommend you to a friend, they won't buy more products from you. Some companies have figured this out, and they have created wonderful products and services that customers love, and which allow those companies to make money.
so how can you do this?...
freedom fighter Paul English has constructed this list of directives... Good site to bookmark... It'll help you bypass many of those automated helpdesk frontends...
www.paulenglish.com/ivr
and the info page... INFO...
Saturday, November 26
Friday, November 25
heras positive B sample
as a person who believes in due process and fairness under the law i am very interested to see what happens with his inevitable appeal... there have been a few riders to be exonerated after this epo test... and i do believe that if there is reasonable doubt as to the reliability of a test it shouldnt be used... and i also believe a person has the right and responsibility to challenge the validity of claims against him...
it would be nice if a positive B sample was a guilty verdict and then you could sanction the athlete right away and be done with it... a nice and tidy process... but i think that in the case of this epo test currently in use a positive B sample is just like an indictment... with the real trial to follow... there is a nice sized hole in the epo test, one big enough to drive a legal process through...
the story
Thursday, November 24
Wednesday, November 23
i think that the city is losing something by not having the race.. but its up to them to set their priorities and to etablish their boundaries politically... its a shame that the merits of the event couldnt be made compellingy clear to the city... but what can you do?...
will the ToC replace what tehy lost in hosting their own classic event?... no way...
i dont see them being able to have the same epic kind of course that the SFGP had... the two vent would have had a nice synergy for the city... but i dont see ToC replacing what was valuble about the SFGP...
Tuesday, November 22
coach colby
story
TOP 10 UNSAFE PLACES
2. Detroit
3. St. Louis
4. Flint, Mich.
5. Richmond, Va.
6. Baltimore
7. Atlanta
8. New Orleans
9. Gary, Ind.
10. Birmingham, Ala.
methodology
now what does this really mean?... i grew up in RVA when we were consistently in the top 3 per capita murders.. i always felt safe because i knew what was going on... i was for sure street smart... i feel confident in saying that in the case of RVA its violent crime is not random and is tied almost exclusively to its drug traffic problem... any city on the I-95 between Miami and Maine is going to have a problem with violent crime... i think that if you arent out in the street you will have much less of a problem... and if you can live a life where you are not required to go near projects or areas where drug violence is prevalent then you are living in a much different city than the RVA that made this list... you might have a break-in (i never had one and i lived close to the hood) but if you dont have any involvement with drugs, or "street life" then you are significantly more likely to die in a car accident than as a result of violent crime...
so then.. when you consider what cities are the most dangerous wouldnt it be more accurate to include all possible dangers?.. or at least the dangers that people are more likely to be affected by?... like car accidents, cancers caused by environmental factors (DDT or radon, or lead in the water, or something like that) death by house fires, hurricanes, or earthquake?...
or at least consider that a significant portion of violent crime is not random...
Newfound Ancient Beast Dubbed Godzilla
and also you can listen to talk of the nation science friday... they are talking about dinosaurs and stuff...
listen to talk fo the nation
Monday, November 21
offer me a job!...
no more SFGP
Saturday, November 19
To Erik Saunders Non Believers
Friday, November 18
FIGS
the new ERIKSAUNDERS.COM
if you would like to be one of these analysts please e mail me and ask.. i want the group to be very large and diverse... and i want to include all those of you who are regular posters... some people i will be inviting soon, but i dont have contact for all of you who are regulars...
so... e mail me
Thursday, November 17
MotionBased Dot Racing...
props to JRB
so huge props to the big JRB for coming clean when one of his riders got caught with growth hormone... it was in a team search of hotel rooms that they found it (a team search!.. thats taking the bull by the horns)... they they could have kept it quiet but they didnt.. and then to make sure they had that stuff tested to see what it was... and then they told everyone... did it look bad for the sponsor?.. hell no!!!... it looked good for JRB and the team and the sport to have this handled in a serious, honest and transparent way...
its ok to talk about drugs and to admit that it exists... silence and avoidance of the issue isnt the answer...
Wednesday, November 16
Tuesday, November 15
USPRO championships moves to Greenville, South Carolina
yeah... thats nice.. i dont particularly care... they just really need to have a race and call it the championships and give a jersy to the winner.. its nice to have no foreigners finally... it would have been cool to have the race in a major market, but hey... nobody probably bid from a major market.. and i bet there is no on-going effort to cozy up to officials and sponsors in major markets, so then... what can you do?...
I Need a Pro Contract!
Monday, November 14
from cycling4all:
Nerac and Sport Group Nord-Ost have reached a three-year agreement to continue title sponsorship of the USA Continental Nerac/Outdoorlights.com Pro Cycling Team. Full time manager of the team will be Thad Fischer. From the 2005 team are staying: Aaron Brown (Usa) - John Hanson (Usa) - Patrick Heidkamp (Ger) - Adam Hodges-Myerson (Usa) - Michael Norton (Usa) and David Werling (Usa) New additions to the team include Thad Dulin (Usa) = Jitter Joe; ex-pro's Jon Hamblen (Usa) and Justin Spinelli (Usa) + neo's Scott Edge (Usa) - Jacob Fetty (Usa) - Hoyt Halvorson (Usa) and Todd Yezefski (Usa). Leaving are: Ari De Wilde (Usa) - Roger Farrell (Tri) - Oscar Pineda (Gua) - Cody Powell (Usa) and Jason Williams (Usa) = (thanks Aad !!)
tour de nez
Thursday, November 10
Wednesday, November 9
Tuesday, November 8
eriksaunders.com top races
red bull road rage- treated athletes like they should be treated... take media seriously... pro production effort.. course safety
superweek- provides a series for young riders to get a lot of quality racing in and prove themselves against a good pro field.. great competition... nice spectators...
nature valley- actively seeks input and criticism from cycling experts (the riders, imagine that!)... great courses.. always looking to change for the better and have a nice race that the athletes enjoy...
captech classic- pro organiztion... media smart... dedicated harworking organizers... works with the city very closely... willing to try different things...
charlotte- its got a lot of money (not if you are a golfer though)...
t-town- i think i might have to make it back there...
all races in the mid atlantic in the summer- you can seriously make a bit of money if you are a good young rider... its good hard racing to cut your teeth on and see what kind of level you really have.. the locals are good.. then there are always a few extra regional stand-outs.. and then you will always get a few good pros that time of the year... if you are a young cat 1 and you are killing it at races like park ridge or mt holly or faulkner honda then you are a good bike rider...
RACES I ALSO LIKED A LOT IN 05...
sommerville
cats hill
sea otter
hanes park
giro di SF
Tour of Connecticut
CSC invitational
France
andrewsullivan.com
it is something regarding the civil unrest in france.. as i gather my thoughts i wil have more to say about this... i will say that many french are racist xenophobes... and after living there, reading and talking to people i can say that i think that the french in power in occupied france werent too bummed out about the nazis which is something that you dont hear about in school...
Monday, November 7
some photos...
miles winning...
the fastest guys in the speed trap... i was in this elite group...
old miles... normal bike.. no fear.. no worries...
mc cook was very serious in his mental prep...
i think that dave is one hell of a handsome guy...
clinger... he is one easy going guy...
i like to wear pads
smarty likes pads too...
after party...
nate was happy to meet some celebs...
this is hollywood nate with wike
these guys were playing upstairs at the key club...
this band is called Banane Metalik... they are a french psychobilly band if you can believe that... they put on a good show... after you see GWAR this kind of stuff on stge just isnt all that but they play good loud and fast music and the upright slap bass is a great sound for punk music.. its like two drummers...
see their myspace
see their own site
PDF reader for palm
There is a reader for palm devices... Its free... And if you have a treo you need this to see race announcements... So go to the adobe site and get it...
Treo 650...
Sunday, November 6
yeah.. the winner was Miles Rockwell
Saturday, November 5
Crashes
Duncan riffle... Ok i hear..
Dean myers... dean broke a collar bone... He had full gear...
Dave mc cook... Ok but dented my tt helmet...
I thought the course was safe.... They added a lot of extra barriers, 6 foot fences, and hay bales...
if they had a series of these and i could make ok money i would quit road racing and do them all...
This was a great event to go to... The athletes were all super cool and the vibe was real chill... We treated great by jon mesko at giant and the redbull staff... And bcore did event productions and they were all cool too... If ever crit could be so much fun it would be nice...
They just need to come up with a better spectator format... Like using a street luge type course so you can see more action and do 2 up instead of 4... Like do a match sprint format...
Friday, November 4
Thursday, November 3
Wednesday, November 2
Nyvelocity.com
i made this interview recently... this is a nice site i think.. also of value:
Do's and Don'ts
Ali G Inda Beez race
Jerseys: What Not to Wear
Excuses, Excuses
Tuesday, November 1
Monday, October 31
NPR : New Father's Sex-Offender History Sparks Custody Battle
this is really scary to me and i am not sure that this is the kind of government that i want to have... this is the kind of thing you gotta watch out for... dangerous precedents... slippery slope... all that...
i will have to keep an eye on this story... to learn more about the particulars... and the legal ramifications...
Saturday, October 29
good for the TOUR...
ha...
check cyclingnews or velosnooze... everyone is so amped up... this is comical to me...
not that the ASO didnt turn a blind eye for decades.. but hey... you gotta start somewhere... and in my book, a self-important FUCK YOU ALL is a good place to start...
maybe they will actually do it.. maybe not... either way i am having a good laugh...
thapoopshow
finally.. resolution with cingular
Friday, October 28
Training Music
AN OPEN SURVEY OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC TO TRAIN TO.
Please let me know what you load on your iPod or what drills into your head when you're trying to stay motivated on your trainer.
Someone please gag Kelly Clarkson...
Thursday, October 27
Wednesday, October 26
Tuesday, October 25
tanya harding website
tonyaharding.com
this has got to be one of the silliest sites i have ever seen... be warned it spirals downhill and out of control...
Monday, October 24
death rays
solar death ray
the famous and historical Archimedes Death Ray
Build your own Adiabatic "Death Ray"
and this death ray also
Friday, October 21
UNPRO?!!!
on The World radio program there was a story about a Sudanese imigrant who serves in the US Army and is stationed in Iraq... in the back of an armored veicle soldiers joke and haze eachother... the sargeant slowly rubs the ear of the "new guy" to get a rise out of him minutes before they step out into the hot ass sun to patrol Mosul... then its game on because they have a job to do that has serious repercusion on many levels... all business in a life and death situation...
i hear stuff like this it makes me want to smack anybody who wants to tell me about "professionalism" or "appropriate behavior" in cycling... as if this is all so serious that you cant have a good time and just get silly when you feel it...
Thursday, October 20
new feature
i hit it today boy...
used clothes for sale
2004 McGuire jersey (yellow and green) size M- $25
2004 McGuire bibs (yellow and green) size M- $25
McGuire-Langdale jerseys size M- $30
McGuire-Langdale treated wind jacket (like new)size L- $40
2001 nike OFOTO jersey size M- $15
2001 nike OFOTO bibs size L- $15
2003 garneau OFOTO jersey signed by the Tour de Georgia team size S- $50
WHITE CSK shorts size L- $25
GS Ficonseils bibs size L- $15
silver Rudy Project Skurya helmet(used for a month only... great shape) size L- $40
Wednesday, October 19
Team Burrito/Meatnuts merger!!
FOR URGENT RELEASE
10.18.05
Baltimore,MD
Today a new era in the world of cycling began as the blissful joining of the most powerful forces known to man has taken place. The new up and coming super-powered Burrito team has officially merged with the long-running unpro juggernaut Team Meatnuts. Thus forming Team Burrito presented by Meatnuts, and at other times Team Meatnuts presented by Burritos.
". . . That is good stuff." Meatnuts Director Sportif The Goid, ESQ.
"This is truely the greatest day in the history of the world and more importantly, the greatest thing to happen to me since I took a crap this morning." Burrito Director jmurder.com, PHd. "We had high hopes for the Burrito team in '06: a team kit, burritos to eat. With this merger, I feel both of those goals can be accomplished."
The Goid could not be reached for further comment, but reports claim that he is flipping off the walls.
On how the team Director duties would be divided, jmurder.com stated, "That's no big deal, we're both very unprofessional. I don't see how there will be any conflicts whatsoever."
On what roster changes would be made, Mr. murder.com stated "I don't see a problem there either. Look (Pierce) Dangleman is still in the picture as a carry over from Meatnuts, and we finalised (Becca) Much's deal last week. Regardless of what myspace.com says, they both really, truely exist and they both are big pieces to this pie. This sexy, wonderful burrito pie."
On what the fallout from other teams may be, j added "Look, I don't give a Brazilian monkey's bald red hemroidal ass what those bitches think. And that's a fact. We are going to dominate everything. Screw those guys. What did Health Net say? I know that's who you've been talkin' to. Look, I don't care, I'll tell them to their faces. Fuck 'em. And I'll tell you one more thing, contrary to the rumors on the internet, myspace isn't going to be a sponsor. Screw them."
Look out wussy riders of the domestic peleton, in '06 you will have a new master: Team Burrito presented by Meatnuts, ot Meatnuts presented by Burritos. Get to work bitches!
this is the new coolest bike on ebay...
Saturday, October 15
Hurricane Rita was not funny, but if you prepare properly you can get through these storms with what is important. It's all about priorities......save the beer!
Hurricane Survival Kit
Toilet Paper........................................check
Bud Light...........................................check
Keystone Ice........................................check
Budweiser...........................................check
Red Dog.............................................check
Misc. other bottles of alcohol......................check
Piece of plywood to float your old lady and booze on...check
Next time let's all be more prepared.
Friday, October 14
Thursday, October 13
Let me tell you...
There are some odd looking folks in the airport in the slc... I mean like some wierd pasty white throwback lookin folk...
i think i saw some "evacuees"... I imagine that you would stand out if you were sent up here...
thats why i have to move... So when an earthquake destroys socal they wont send me here...
Wednesday, October 12
Ratkovic shot while riding
this happened to a friend of mine.... except it was BB's... he caught them at a light and ripped the mirrors off of their brand new dodge pick-up...
Tuesday, October 11
Join the TEAM!! Help bring awareness and aid to recent Gulf hurricanes victims by, supporting the Ride To Reunite.
Our vision is to utilize the sport of cycling to demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility and concern.
We are uniting the cycling world in an effort to raise worldwide awareness, relief, and funds for the victims of the recent Gulf hurricanes. The Ride To Reunite specifically focuses attention on the critical need to reunite children and their families who were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. To quickly raise awareness we have joined forces with an established charity. Save the Children, is the leading US and world wide independent organization creating lasting change for children in need. Through its Gulf Coast Recovery Fund For Children all money generated will be put to immediate use. All donations will be a 100% tax deduction.
Our goal is to raise $100,000 for the hurricane victims. As cyclists we know it takes a TEAM to achieve, this couldnt be truer now. Help us raise awareness by joining the group of already committed cyclists for a segment of the ride or sponsoring a rider. Other ways you can contribute are by donating products that can be used in our raffle to generate money for the charities.
Ride Info: We will be departing with a sponsor and media kickoff celebration in San Diego at 8am Saturday October 22nd, from the San Diego Velodrome and complete the Ride To Reunite at 3pm Sunday October 30th in New Orleans.
Our team will include 8-10 top professional cyclists committed to riding from San Diego to New Orleans. Alongside the pros will be an equally committed group of hundreds of cyclists prepared to ride segments of the journey. Ride logistics have been planned for those riders going the distance including navigators, mechanics, a team chef, mobile support, and traveling caravan.
Media coverage will be utilized in the eight major US cities in route from San Diego to New Orleans (San Diego, CA Phoenix, AZ Tucson, AZ El Paso, TX San Antonio, TX Houston, TX Baton Rouge, LA New Orleans, LA).
No matter what is in our future as cyclists we are committed to causes outside ourselves. Now our focus is on the young victims and their families affected by recent hurricanes. As cyclists we use intense efforts to succeed, and it will take an intense effort of social responsibility to win the battle against the Gulf hurricane disasters and the continuing long term effects.
This is a great way for the cycling community to demonstrate their concern and compassion for the hurricane victims. The support we have been getting already is amazing. That support will only grow with each city we pass through building into a huge surge of aid and assistance.
-Ryan Yee
Professional Cyclist and Ride to Reunite Organizer
For more info on how to join us please send an email to info@ridetoreunite.com or visit www.RideToReunite.com to make donations starting Tuesday October 11th.
ok...
Sunday, October 9
i got a saeco classico
Saturday, October 8
Friday, October 7
i am pretty hot right now about my cingular service
does anybody work for cingular?... or another provider?... e mail me
from the desk of MIKE JONES:
thanks
Thursday, October 6
Wednesday, October 5
PostSecret
ERIKSAUNDERS.COM NATIONWIDE SOCAL APPRECIATION POOL PARTY
Tuesday, October 4
NPR : After O.J.: Not Enough Has Changed
this is one of the best editorials i have heard in a long time...
Daily Peloton - Pro Cycling News
bicycle radio is number 7... we did a live show from vegas on the first night and it was really dang cool... there were a lot of guests and there were also a lot of people hanging out for a happy hour that they had going on just outside of the expo... its now live streaming on the web... click the link at the top of the page to go to their site...
Monday, October 3
Allan had just started a new job at Reynold's, and recently wrapped up the Utah Cycling Association year long title. He left behind his wife, Jenny, and nine month old daughter Odessa. We are trying to organize various fundraisers to benefit the two of them.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to:
Jenny or Odessa Butler
c/o Elizabeth Lockette
Morgan Stanley
2645 East Parleys Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
The Allan Butler Charity Ride is being planned. Tentatively, it is scheduled for Saturday, October 8, 2005 at 9am. It will leisurely ascend Emigration Canyon (one of Allan’s favorite rides) and return to the start (parking and location being planned). Donations will be graciously accepted. Coffee will be served at the top of Emigration Canyon. A post-event raffle is being planned for cycling related donations. With any gifts or donations for the raffle please contact Gardie Jackson at 435-901-1972 or gardie@.att.net.
More info. at www.dailypeloton.com
Thanks,
Ryan Barrett
Healthy Choice/ Goble Knee Clinic CT
Friday, September 30
Thursday, September 29
Sram
Jared says the little lever does both shifts... Short throw for one way long throw for the other