Erik Saunders' Website

Thursday, February 2

project runway...

andre is gone...

i was really happy that he kept it together on the runway... he was totally fucking robbed the challenge before... and then he got ejected.. just like zulema who threw down the show before she got cut too...

thats why i like this show.. its about what you produce on the day, not what you have done before, and not who likes you, and how well you play with the other contestants.. you dont get voted off or anything by the others like survivor...

nick, i have to say is a puss... i like him before.. but since he got his model took he just hasnt been the same...

i like kara to go home next... it would be normal.. since after teetering she killed it in the last challenge and now must be canned like daniel and zulema... kara pulled the high and outside dangle then dove over 4 down the stretch to catch daniel napping.. a nice move worthy of respect... its great to see the text book move you expect in an elimination- but done big like kara did it... i suspend my racsism against south africans for her... and jopie joffers wherever you are...

i liked zulema- (her website) a lot.. and i like santino... to win i like daniel

i like santino, daniel, and chloe for the last 3...

and i really liked daniel franco.. but he was gone early... i didnt like him to win.. but he was cool...

go to the website and see the exit interviews

i'll bring some maxim gels and stuff and extran to the race this weekend and to st valentines day if anybody wants to hit me up..you can save shipping

rant...

i remember back in the days when you used to could get handlebars that actually had drops that went down.. nowdays all bars are so shallow that the drops are just the same as the tops as the hoods... and i blame old guys with bad backs...

it used to be that you could get a 73 degree stem too... but now you can only get stupid up-stems... because of all the old guys with bad backs...

and bikes these days have taller and taller head tubes because of the old guys with bad backs...

whats the net effect?.. if you are a bike racer who is young and flexible you cant get a bike where you have low drops for being aero.. because bikes dont have real drop bars anymore and they have up-stems and tall head tubes.. i remember before a-head you couldnt catch any self-respecting biker dead with an up-stem on his bike... but now thats all you get...

only the italians still will give you some deep old school bars.. everybody else just has one bar.. and thats for OE becuase people want to be "comfy"...

seriously.. its jacked up that racing bikes these days are set up so that they are comfy at 20mph... when really on a racing bike you should have it set up to be comy at 30mph... which isnt really the same thing...

palm springs condo

they are building a ahole row of things up a canyon along bottom of the mountains... they are pretty cool... riding by with a camera phone i cantget the right shot to really show the full effect...

Monday, January 30

02.07.06 blue plate special. I mean blue tape special

first race...

yeah.. so we had that race this weekend... it was cool... we didnt win or anything... but it was fun... we got a good group...

the race went by quick and everybody really dug on the 100k thing...

Sunday, January 29

KCBD - NewsChannel 11 / Lubbock, TX: Does It Work Story Archives

KCBD - NewsChannel 11 / Lubbock, TX: Does It Work Story Archives this is a damned good website... saved me some money...

Saturday, January 28

boondocks sucks on tv...

Friday, January 27

the official eriksaunders.com best show on tv...

project runway... i dont know why i havent said anythig about this show before... its damned good... so i am gonna start writing about it...

i think kara is the next off... and santino wont win... i like chloe and nick to win.. but now i am really seeing something nice in daniel...

i like this show because it remind me of art school...

Oh, I'm hooked alright - HOOKED ON A FEELING!

He shoulda stuck to Knight Rider...

Oh, and this one is good: pwned!

Rohff, La Puissance, clip video, nouveau single

Rohff, La Puissance, clip video, nouveau single

this guy is right now the heat in france... and that aint son cite'... its LA..

Mile High Atlanta

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Bolivia leader halves his own pay

Wednesday, January 25

Ksyrium Elite Wheels

i have some silver shimano mavic ksyrium elite wheels... they have not been ridden and i will sell them for $350 including shipping... e mail me if you want them... help me pay my mortgage... thanks...

first race this weekend at the CBR crit

am i ready?.. hell no.. but that wont stop me from showing up...

its gonna be the first race for our team together... its gonna be a good team building day... i am always optimistic about being able to work together but its never seemed to happen yet... the best was me and J.Al and Devon and Bahati at superweek last year in the McGuire team...

with hegg and ken yamakoshi and ryan yee and the other guys being so goal directed and open i think its going to be the year... the thing with this group is lack of individualist attitude.. it doesnt seem at all that there are any overly selfish or ambitious riders... and they are all in fact useful on the bike.. which is the main thing...

we had a conference call yesterday to keep in contact and reiterate team goals.. we will be doing this twice a month to keep things on track and the communication open... my goal for the young riders is that they should all year just learn their trade... to be pro at anything you have to know what you are doing... a lot guys dont have much of an idea.. and if no one is there to help you its hard to learn.. you lose years in a career that is short as it is... a key to success is good mentorship...

for all the stuff i have done and experienced people i have been around not many of them have taught me a damned thing even when it should have been their job... so i want to make sure that what little i have been able to put together i can pass along to as many of these guys as possible...

Random Chuck Norris Fact: Top Thirty Facts

CNN.com - Rocket on two wheels - Jan 24, 2006

check this out

chronicles of narnia

Tuesday, January 24

2006 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah

World class professional cycling is coming to Utah August 7-12, 2006 at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. The event consists of a six day, nearly six hundred mile stage race, and is being backed by the Larry H. Miller Group, owners of the Utah Jazz NBA franchise, and the Utah State Sports Commission. The event will be covered for 30 minutes each night by local television network KJZZ, and will feature a $40,000 prize purse for Professional and Category 1 men.
Billed as “America’s Hardest Bike Race”, the event will utilize the close proximity of downtown venues and high altitude climbs to create an extremely challenging and exciting race. Stages have been proposed for downtown Salt Lake City, the Miller Motor Park, Provo, Mt. Nebo, Park City, and a final stage of over 115 miles with nearly 17,000 feet of climbing.
Race Director, Jason Preston states, “We are honored to have the Larry H. Miller Group on board for our event. Our aim is to bring all of the top US domestic teams to Utah to do battle on our unrelenting climbs”.
For more information contact info@tourofutah.com and visit the website www.tourofutah.com, and please check back frequently for updates.

Things went wrong for hand-holding partners Chad and Mike at the International World Cup of Hand-Holding...

(from Velonews)

CBR is the shit

so yeah... California Bicycle Racing is the shit... all of their crits are 100k this year.. i remember 2 years ago i was talking to Chris Lotts (the worst shit talker in socal) about doing it... its better for the elite riders who travel to have longer home races.. and its better for the young guys to do a longer race since it gets them ready for the distance in bigger races that they want to go do... for a 21 year old to go from 60 min crits to 100k at superweek, or the standard 50 milers on the east coast, or a road race its a shock... so for the sake of development i think doing 100k crits in socal will be way better... i think though that he should kill his 30+ open and make the 30's who are 1 or 2 race with us... for 100k the older riders have an advantage i think... we have VERY good 30+ masters... and leave the 30+ to be a 3/4 for begining riders.. but hey.. i am just happy to have 2 hours of racing when i slog into LA instead of just one stupid hour and i cant do the masters to at least make it worth my while to kill the day at a local race... so good on CBR for stepping it up...

Sunday, January 22

my favorite girl biker sarah hammer wins again

she won the pursuit with a track record in qualifying and she won the scratch race ahead of becky quinn who is my second favorite girl biker... sweet...

NPR : Dave Barry Explains the Value of a Dollar

NPR : Dave Barry Explains the Value of a Dollar funny shit.. how this guy just doesnt answer people's serious questions... and the best advice is to not buy a house because its made of wood and insects eat wood and you spend all this money on something that is really just food for insects...

i made some yam fries.. they are damned good... make some yourself...

NPR : New Data Suggests Coca Benefits

Why Coca is good for you... new scientific research suggests benefits!... and... what scientists learned from the outstanding health of the indigenous peoples of Panama... hate to say i told you so...

Saturday, January 21

for those of you who want to hear about biking i will now tell you how great my E-soles are...

at our team meeting at steve hegg's house we got fitted for these custom foot beds called e-soles... by bill peterson himself who is the master of footbeds... this is bill hooking up jeremiah wiscovitch the czexican national champion...

yeah.. they misspelled my name, probably because i chicken scratched my name on the form you fill out when you get them made... i rode them today for 5 hrs and they worked good and i didnt have any pain or discomfort... i felt a bit more powerful and for sure i felt like i had a more solid interface with my foot on the pedal... my foot is fully supported in the shoe

Chain Driver

This is the Chain Driver.. the most kick-ass trainer ever... Do i still use it?... No... they all belonged to the team... but i wish i still had mine.. they sponsored the OFOTO team and thats how i found out about it... its a flywheel that takes teh place of your rear wheel.. this thing is really stable and you can dial up good progressive resistance... it mimics the feel of cycling better than anything and it provides a lot of resistance at high rpms that feels smooth like you are out on the road... i wish i still had this thing... its like a scientific ergometer for your house... i dont know why nobody made one of these before...

Friday, January 20

Keepin' It Real with Evo Morales

LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - In his diplomatic debut in Europe this week, leftist Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales has made waves fashionably as well as politically.

Morales, the first Indian elected president in Bolivia, unsettled many at home and abroad by breaking protocol and visiting Spanish King Juan Carlos wearing a striped, multicoloured sweater, local media said on Friday.

"Evo's attire sparks international controversy" ran the headline of daily La Razon, before describing criticism of his informal look in the Spanish media.

Morales, who herded llamas as a youngster before becoming a coca farmer, has shunned suits and ties during his world tour, favouring short-sleeved shirts, leather jackets and casual sweaters to greet the likes of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Many Bolivians think the 46-year-old bachelor is only staying true to his humble roots.

"He is sending the message that he is a modest man who wants to stay close to his indigenous people," Bolivian designer Beatriz Canedo Patino told Reuters.

Morales, who takes office on January 22, visited Venezuela and Cuba before crossing the Atlantic for the European leg of a tour that will also include China, South Africa and Brazil.

On Friday he was in fashion hotbed Paris.

"We should respect his wish not to wear a tie, although it would maybe be nice to see him wear something a bit more elegant," Canedo Patino said.

Thursday, January 19

hour record for George?

The latest Discovery Channel hot rod project to come through Trek was this fixed gear track bike for George Hincapie. Apparently, George's coach said he needed to do some training on a fixed gear bike so team liaison Scott Daubert had this Madone frame modified with some one-off track specific dropouts (w/ 120mm spacing) made by our Advanced Concept Group. Look for the inside scoop from George on the next Exit 180 newsletter after we chase him down at the team training camp in Solvang.

Wednesday, January 18

Why does Erik care about sloppy seconds?

-The question was spurred on by the famed Alien vs. Predator paradox
Click here to read more

Erik asked me to post this (abridged) discussion he and I had offline about the topic. I realize most of you don't care. For those that do:

Parke:
As I recall, the second is a break-down of the arc, as defined by the
time it takes the sun to travel across the sky, meaning the sun (from our
primitive geocentric perspective) travels overhead sixty seconds of arc in one
minute.

Anticipating your motive, this is what pisses me off about your AVP
postulate. Even if they gave us the base-60 method of measuring time, could some alien culture happen to have exactly the same rate of rotation on their home planet? What are the chances? 1 trillion to one? It's practically guaranteed that the speed of our rotation would be faster or slower than any other planet within several light-years. You think they came here back in Babylonian times, walked out with a stop watch, realized we were 15% too slow and called out the intergalactic tow-service to speed up our rotation until we were in sync with their clock?
I call bull.

Erik:
i stumbled across that explaination googling this s$%t instead of riding
my bike...

but what is amazing to me is that they even bothered at all... it seems
utterly useless... and until very modern times was not even practical to
measure seconds!... the concerns of ancient people as far as measuring
time went probably didnt revolve around the order of a unit so small as
the second... hey.. but its thorough... people are a trip man...

Parke:
Oh time was VERY important.
People wanted to predict things (or more accurately, better anticipate the cyclical nature of life) and the observation of the celestial heavens was tantamount to knowing the gods, gazing into a crystal ball, or at least making a better farmer's almanac. Ptolemy's work calculating a more precise mean second/division of circle gave us a new calculation of pi to 3.14166, which is startlingly accurate (3.14159 by SI).

So what?
Well think of what this new tool did to manufacturing-how much more accurate could wheels and gears be? How about architecture? The pyramids in Egypt were built based on ratios of squares and triangles inscribed inside cirlces to an accuracy of only two decimal places. (Still damn amazing).
The circle is one of the three vitruvian forms, and knowing it better and relating it to the real world is big stuff. Ditto for time. And relating time and spatial measurements... that's everything. We're still working on that today.

You might also find Hero's engine to be interesting... A steam turbine some 2000 years before anyone had a use for it.

{End Transmission, remove soap-box}

Have at it folks. Please be gentle, though, all my reference texts are packed to be moved to my new house...

Tuesday, January 17

Community Data Center

Community Data Center this site kicks ass for statistical info on new orleans... simple...

why is a second as long as it is?...

for how long has it been the duration that it is now?... how lng has the second ben in existence?... what ancient societies used the second?... how long has the second even existed?

training camp

ok.. yeah. we had a fun weekend meeting and did some nice bike rides in san diego county... the team is mostly local guys so we will be able to race together a lot thats good... we are doing som media camp in february to really kick it off...

Monday, January 16

banned from disneyland...

Friday, January 13

Really extending the debate of vehicular design

18 and over! You kiddies no clicky!

Pogo Stick

Would that be then new Yugo screwyerself?

I am surely going to hell for posting this.

/window seat, please...

extending the debate of vehicular design

Better than an Elite 50? Go here.

Thursday, January 12

press releases

clubs and people send me press releases about your activities in cycling and i will put them up where tens of thousands of people will see.. seriously... low tens of thousands...

corrugated metal fence

here is a nice fence made of corrugated metal... this isnt the fence that i would like to build, but its still a very cool fence... i am going to have to convince my babe that its going to look good... otherwise she is going to cry about it and make my life miserable... i am going to plan a field trip to corrugated metal fences... she thinks it "doesnt go" with an older house... but i like the mix of old and new... i like in europe how there is that mix everywhere... and also this house is a modified pre-war bungalow (not a craftsman with all the embellishments... its much simplified)... at the time this was a style that sought to bring what was at the time a modern sensibility to american homes... natural light, large windows, simple floor plan with no hallways and a nice flow from room to room... the idea was that a beautiful home that was well conceived and designed could have a positive effect on the mental and physical health of the people that lived in it.. this was style and modern design for the masses.. the bungalow was decidedly affordable and middle class... it seems like these ideals were lost... and are just now regaining steam... so i can continue with the theme of a home like this and keep it smart and modern... or i can think of this house as an older style built before ww2 and treat it in a more conservative manner, which i think would be a betrayal of both my personal style and the spirit of the design... i dont think of myself as doing a preservational renovation... i am furthering the original ideals of the design... first on the list- fence... bump out the kitchen...

Wednesday, January 11

Hanzi Smatter 一知半解

Hanzi Smatter 一知半解

laugh at people's jacked up tattoos

Horsepower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Horsepower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
check this out regarding horespower.. interesting.. the smarts are more powerful than you think by this explaination of bhp vs sae hp which is what we are more used to seing these days...

i have an idea

to do a fence made from corrugated metal... i did an internet search and i didnt find anything regarding such a fence or wall.. so its something that isnt really done often... i have not seen much fencing made from metal.. but i have seen some stuff... i am going to ride now and i am gonna ride past some cool places with metal fences and i will take some photos...

corrugated metal double sided fencing on wood 4x4 posts with 2x4 rails... and a metal cap... i photoshopped one in on a picture of my house and it looked damned good... with sliding gates, not gates hung on hinges... in my head it looks real good.. but the challenge now is to find corrugated metal in the right configuration for well under $1 per square foot... its possible... vertical wide sine wave...

anyone have any experience with something like this?

www.cyclingnews.com news and analysis

www.cyclingnews.com news and analysis

CPA considering legal action against Pound?

pound is a tactless jackass, yes.. but what a bunch of little bitches in the riders assiciation!...

pound says:
"This drug use is not the accidental ingestion of a tainted supplement by an individual athlete," Pound said. "It is planned and deliberate cheating, with complex methods, sophisticated substances and techniques, and the active complicity of doctors, scientists, team officials and riders. There is nothing accidental about it. All this cheating goes on under the supposedly watchful eyes of cycling officials, who loudly proclaim that their sport is drug-free and committed to remaining so. Based on performance, they should not be allowed outdoors without white canes and seeing-eye dogs."

pretty funny if you ask me...

i mean seriously... what in this statement is so controversial?... and why are euro pro bikers such little bitches to whine and say 'you are hurting our feelings'.. well you little skinny bobble heads, the truth hurts... suck it up...

what in this statement of pound's is libelous?... i dont get it... somebody in the CPA needs to get a clue and just let this kind of thing ride... you just cant knee jerk react to every time somebody says something you dont like just because you dont like it... these cpa guys gotta think a bit about this shit before they shoot off like a bunch of spoiled snotty nose children...

Tuesday, January 10

smart.com - special editions

smart.com - models

i am also very interested in the new honda fit

we have a weekend meeting for the successful living team...

i'll take some photos...

exciting times for auto design...

i have thought for a while that the the concept behind cars like the element and xb will have to make their way up the scale in the coming years... these two cars have a level of functionality , ergonomic comfort , and style that is desirable to today's life and sensibilities...

And you thought your day was bad...

-Something to wince at to fill in the gaps between Erik's posts...

Tuesday, January 3

saunders to star in and produce his own on-demand reality TV series...

yes this is true... i am starring in and producing my own monthly tv reality series available on demand to viewers through this website.. the show will also be supported by interactive features on this website using audio blogger technology and other gizmos...

follow the adventures monthly on DVDs that i record with my own video recorder... once i get one... team camp is next week so i hope i can get one by then... the dvds might be free because i cant imagine anyone would pay for it... but it depends on how good the shows are and how broke i am... but probably i dont do this at all...

i have to say that i think the christian science monitor is one of the best news sources... they consistently report the news in a matter of fact and non-sensational way... good on these guys... i have thought this for a while but i just remembered it... i used to catch their radio news now and again and i even found it dry.. but thats their goal...

here is a page about the paper... Go

so yeah...

Monday, January 2

yeah... ok...

as cycling's foremost spiritual philosopher and civil libertarian i will stand up and say that i believe in evolution as a scientifically plausable and 99.9% incontrovertable theory who sees also the possibility of divine involvement in the natural world... although i have not heard directly from god himself i doubt that he is a flying spaghettio monster... or a girl.. so i will continue to say "he"... i hope that he will one day tell me what its all about becuase it would be cool to know... but that might not ever happen... i am agnostic... but i do like the idea that a god has provided for humanity a means for happiness and order in a chaotic world... i also like the idea that people should be nice to eachother and that it has an essential cosmic importance...

big neal was one of the most important stories of 2005 according to NPR on the Media...

this was the banner on my site that i did for him a long time ago before he was big time...

this is a link to the story- GO

Saturday, December 31

Open Letter - Intelligent Design

Friday, December 30

DevilDucky - Bendy Woman

i pee on you next...

Fear, Complexity, Environmental Management in the 21st Century

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...

NPR : Sedaris and Crumpet the Elf: A Holiday Tradition

Wednesday, December 28

Christmas lights video

This guy really puts the "mas" in Christmas when it comes to his lights.

Tuesday, December 27

NPR : Ray Kurzweil: Life in the Future

Serotta Ottrott ST '05 Sierra Nevada Team Bike

Serotta Ottrott ST '05 Sierra Nevada Team Bike

old pete is selling his bike....

at the hotel there was a TON of feral cats.. this on had three legs...

... and this one was cross-eyed

this is in mexicali when the little girl climbs up into jacked up trucks to sell candy

this is my new sand dollar

Salton Sea

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

TIAA-CREF / Clif Bar in Europe

NPR : Update: Congolese Refugee Joshua Dimina

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

this guy was seriously a sack up guy in a lot of different ways...

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

Many will remember this picture of Slover (and his sidekick Nad-Boy) fondly:

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 now am a racer of ALL bikes... i will race mountain bikes this year in addition to road and track bikes... and i am doing cross on some pro cross team on 06-07...

i race ALL bikes...

and BMX too in NC in the summer

sack up presidents- THEODORE ROOSEVELT

first in a series of sack up americans...

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

see... at the multi million dollar ADT center there are no toilets for us on the infeild...

i love moutain biking

i went last sunday mountain biking and now i am going to ride a mountainbike all the time... i can go right out of my house and never touch pavement for hours and hours...

Maxim sports nutrition is a dutch company...

not like that jive ass magazine... which i think is stupid...

Friday, December 16

ok... its good.. now you can buy stuff.. have at it... thanks...

ok...

i could talk about what team i am going to be on and all that stuff... but i would rather talk about how the President has authorized the NSA to illegally spy on thousands of americans (check the NY Times)... seemingly benign?... but in view of recent developments concerning other seemingly benign elements of the patriot act, the rise of fundementalism and the general comportment of the executive branch and the right wing kabal, i just have one thing to say... BEWARE THE INCEPTION OF THE SECRET POLICE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA... freedom isnt free my friends... it costs time and vigilance against THE MAN...

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...

NPR : French Rap Musicians Blamed for Violence

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...

so congrats to her for winning the points race at the world cup and getting silver in the pursuit after posting the top time...

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...

what the hell is the SUPER subway team?

well?... what is it?

the tire damage is unimpressive... so i wont bother with a photo

and the rim isnt toast... so i just have to buy two new tires...

yeah... new today...

i didnt really quit... i was going to but then i decided not to... so i officially am not quitting... i am training and everything right now and my legs hurt as per usual... cant stop wont stop hip hop...

Sunday, December 11

DevilDucky - Arnold Schwarzenegger: Carnival in Rio

ok...

i borrowed my mother-in-laws's jeep...

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

SFGP?

What the new SFGP will be-
Especially the bean toss.

Thursday, December 8

Tim Johnson...

so.. are you going to win nats or what?...

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

sweet

http://www.dominos.com/Public-EN/Extras/New+Contest/

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

i am now working on TJ and treefarm interviews...

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...

i got some good interviews coming down the pike...

and a new website too...

back to work...

Tuesday, November 29

i want to interview a good cross rider.. so if you are a good cross rider e mail me... if you are maybe famous like JP or B7 or TJ or el gato... or like Marky Mark.. or if you are some famous belgian or dutch guy that might win a big race that would be cool... because i know famous people check the site every now and again... but you dont have to be famous or actually good.. you just have to think you are good in your head and that will be fine for me...

thanks...

i like when a hot girl has a bad car... makes you think you got a chance...

coffee puck conservation

what to do with the coffee pucks ejected by your fancy coffee machine?... you can make wonderful deserts out of them.. like this one topped with whipped cream...

very gourmet...

this is a beautiful coffe puck terrine...

the mold is visible and creates a strong flavor that balances the sweetness of the cream and the bitterness of the espresso coffee...

Monday, November 28

http://www.devilducky.com/media/38524

How to beat the man and his evil machine empire!

its all about overcoming the evil IVR network...

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

hey I'm drivin' ovva heah!

Only in New York City...

Friday, November 25

heras positive B sample

hmmm... what does it mean?... hamilton was positive for blood boosting and it didnt change much... so i think the beat will go on after heras too...

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