It's a big park with all these trails wrapped around it. A little too technical for cross, but mighty fun at the top, with intersecting trails and whoop-di-doos. I ran into some Platinum dudes riding full carbon mountain rigs. Awesome.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
rush hour
Two Blue Trains leave different Santa Monica trailheads heading toward each other. When and where do they meet?
Train Mountain Bike starts from Bayliss and travels 70 mph up the 16% max grade of Westridge Road. Then LG kits look great on dirt as they hit all the notable singletrack spurs and are amazed by the views and open space inside LA.
At the same time Train Cyclocross, traveling 66 mph, starts up Sullivan Fire Road. They spin to win and practice run-ups when a good embankment reveals itself. Sullivan Ridge tests their climbing prowess on their narrow tires but they reach the top with ease.
When do the two trains meet? How far from each trailhead do they meet? More importantly, how surprised are they when the two run into each other? And who was holding the camera?
To solve this problem, we'll use the distance formula:
rate x time = distance,
and then look in the back of the book for the answers...
Train Blue Cross approx. 5.6 miles
Train Blue MTB approx. 6.4 miles
Time of picture: 7:32AM
Thanks to Matty D for holding the camera.
He'd like to remind you that if you aren't on the AM dirt ride, you don't know what you're missing no matter what flavor your knobbies are.
We could all use a little more of this kind of morning traffic.
.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Vuelta Ex-Pat
In my opinion, the best highlight of the '08 Vuelta... but since it is not televised and I haven't seen any other highlights I would not rely on my objectivity.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
1 day 'til CX racing
THINGS TO BRING
1) A list of insults to yell at your friend while he races
*no insults at the ladies please
2) Fat, yet skinny, tires
3) A dress - if you're into that sort of thing
4) A helmet is probably a good idea
5) Cross bike (or Field bike as they're sometimes called)
Destroy your safe and happy life before it is too late: Race Cross.
Work and life bum me out but not today,
tomorrow is the start of cross season.
The Art of Cross is the official name for the first event and it is appropriate because Cross is equal parts this and this. As dudes will show up in plum smugglers nothing is predictable. I won't be lining up, instead just trying to avoid the bummer life. Just prevent this tragedy called "cross" from infecting your family, otherwise you're loved ones may start wearing costumes to more than just bike races.
1) A list of insults to yell at your friend while he races
*no insults at the ladies please
2) Fat, yet skinny, tires
3) A dress - if you're into that sort of thing
4) A helmet is probably a good idea
5) Cross bike (or Field bike as they're sometimes called)
Destroy your safe and happy life before it is too late: Race Cross.
Work and life bum me out but not today,
tomorrow is the start of cross season.
The Art of Cross is the official name for the first event and it is appropriate because Cross is equal parts this and this. As dudes will show up in plum smugglers nothing is predictable. I won't be lining up, instead just trying to avoid the bummer life. Just prevent this tragedy called "cross" from infecting your family, otherwise you're loved ones may start wearing costumes to more than just bike races.
Friday, September 19, 2008
2 days 'til CX racing
When you're racing in the Midwest there is one household name who really stands out in bicycle racing. Steve Tilford is an ageless force to be reckoned with. Besides his LONG history of racing in the Pro Tour to riding the dirt for Specialized all the way until the late 90's Steve has yet to hang up his racing shoes. I don't know another soul who lives harder to race his bike. These days he lives in the Kansas City area tending to an apartment complex and rescuing ferrel cats. The rest of his time is spent on his bike.
Besides his astounding ability to keep performing at a pro level with a blonde perm is the legend and lore that follow him to every race. Take for instance an email I received from a friend this year. "I went racing in Kansas City this weekend. Tilford came up on me and I told him if he wanted to go around me to just say the word and I would make room. All I heard back from him was his yelling, 'IF YOU CAN TALK YOU'RE NOT RIDING HARD ENOUGH!'"
BUT PERHAPS, oh sorry I didn't take off the all-caps. But perhaps the highlight of this season was during a breakaway at the Hillsboro Roubiax Road Race when he told the other two he was attacking with that they could get second and third the easy way or the hard way. They could sit back and enjoy the breakaway and take second and third without a care or they could belly up, be forced to race hard and take second and third after a long hard morning in the saddle. The two told Steve, "no, we want to race hard. you're not going to beat us." With that Tilford put his head down and drove them into the ground for sixty miles. And at the finish they still took second and third - the hard way.
However, when it comes to cross racing the four-time US national cross champ has a highlight that should have made ESPN's play of the day for a week. At a race in 2006 Tilford wrecked into a frozen pond getting completely soaked and icy. But he didn't pull out of the race, instead he just got up rode his ice-covered drivetrain to the pit, got a new bike and put it into overdrive. Don't take my word for it, just look at Velonews and Cyclingnews to get the details.
Besides his astounding ability to keep performing at a pro level with a blonde perm is the legend and lore that follow him to every race. Take for instance an email I received from a friend this year. "I went racing in Kansas City this weekend. Tilford came up on me and I told him if he wanted to go around me to just say the word and I would make room. All I heard back from him was his yelling, 'IF YOU CAN TALK YOU'RE NOT RIDING HARD ENOUGH!'"
BUT PERHAPS, oh sorry I didn't take off the all-caps. But perhaps the highlight of this season was during a breakaway at the Hillsboro Roubiax Road Race when he told the other two he was attacking with that they could get second and third the easy way or the hard way. They could sit back and enjoy the breakaway and take second and third without a care or they could belly up, be forced to race hard and take second and third after a long hard morning in the saddle. The two told Steve, "no, we want to race hard. you're not going to beat us." With that Tilford put his head down and drove them into the ground for sixty miles. And at the finish they still took second and third - the hard way.
However, when it comes to cross racing the four-time US national cross champ has a highlight that should have made ESPN's play of the day for a week. At a race in 2006 Tilford wrecked into a frozen pond getting completely soaked and icy. But he didn't pull out of the race, instead he just got up rode his ice-covered drivetrain to the pit, got a new bike and put it into overdrive. Don't take my word for it, just look at Velonews and Cyclingnews to get the details.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
3 days 'til CX racing
December 16, 2007 US Cyclo-Cross Champs, Kansas City, Missouri.
When the riders got 'called-up' and an official says "you taken off them jeans?" A reply of "no" comes while giving him a look that says "what else would I wear dumb ass?" this made me feel warm all over. Number 60 backed up the rodeo look by riding side saddle on the top tube between the two runup sections. Fantastic race.
The end of Treefarm's Nationals...
The camera work in this snowy vid is neat-o!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
4 days 'til CX racing
As the night time temps drop into the 50s and the leaves start to fall all of the sudden I'm looking at single chainring setups on cyclocrossworld.com or the right kind of tires for hardpack. With cross season descending on SoCal this weekend I know a lot of you are gearing up and getting ready. Some have been training for months and others not at all. Either way Sullivan Canyon has gotten a new image over the last month and while the road season is a fading memory I will attempt to take the next few days to regurgitate a few memories from the Midwest. I might not be racing 'cross right away but I might as well help motivate some of the team. Now repeat after me... "I love cross racing! I love cross racing!"
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Epic Ride pics
Not many pics were taken, and hopefully there will be video to follow, but it was a great ride. Definitely epic. There were bee stings (Marc), flats (Marc), Manny, and a closed road to climb and descend. awesome.
Andres and Marc getting ready. Marc is preparing the kitchen sink for his saddle bag.
Manny's sweet steel Colnago. He won all the euro points today.
Taking a break on East Fork before ascending GMR from the backside.
Marc and his flat 1.0 mile up GMR (I wasn't complaining).
Post-ride reward.
Andres and Marc getting ready. Marc is preparing the kitchen sink for his saddle bag.
Manny's sweet steel Colnago. He won all the euro points today.
Taking a break on East Fork before ascending GMR from the backside.
Marc and his flat 1.0 mile up GMR (I wasn't complaining).
Post-ride reward.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Afternoon Cross
Not quite as amazing as Morning Cross, and minus knobbies, but I did stumble upon a Land Shark. Somewhat rare on dirt but they scare away the mountain lions, so that is cool.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
BGP add your best of photos
Please add you links use the comments:
Richard Kim's BGP Video and early cuts.
Vance's shots
Here are 5 to start
Photos by lenny Courtesy Photo-By-Lenny, LLC
Official Photos - Full access and great angles.
go to www.gr8shots.com , click on "Purchase On-line" in the menu across the bottom of the screen, and then (on the next screen) scroll down to "Brentwood Grand Prix" and click on that.
Photos on Flickr
Photos by Lenny Outstanding.
Richard Kim's BGP Video and early cuts.
Vance's shots
Here are 5 to start
Photos by lenny Courtesy Photo-By-Lenny, LLC
Official Photos - Full access and great angles.
go to www.gr8shots.com , click on "Purchase On-line" in the menu across the bottom of the screen, and then (on the next screen) scroll down to "Brentwood Grand Prix" and click on that.
Photos on Flickr
Photos by Lenny Outstanding.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Morning Cross
This morning was unbelievable on the fire roads... As I got above the fog and the sun started breaking it up, it made for some amazing views. For those of you interested, weekly cross rides will likely start next week, and go once a week (tues or wed.) throughout the winter.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
olympics live and online
three CSC riders in the top five?pretty neat coverage on the NBC Olympics site. usually I'm hard on the media but this was good. I almost felt like it was a video game.
it's 2:58AM but I'm still up and watching. (so much for the morning ride now.) My buddy is about to ride his fourth Leadville 100 in tee minus two hours but I've moved over to Women's Soccer for Sewden vs. Argentina. I hope the wife doesn't mind that I'm up late watching women chase balls around.
I hope coverage of the mountain biking at track cycling is this good.
Go Meatball!
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