Epic hwy 39 - our man from Amsterdam from Marc Thomas on Vimeo.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
bad service at races suck
another great freakin' quote from steve tilford...
"Anyway, when I checked the results driving home, they had left myself and a Nick Coil out of the results. Had us down as DNF’s. I don’t care, but I do have an issue with bad officiating. Nature Valley two years ago they said I DNF’d and I was in the top 20 overall. On a hilly criterium. I had a photo of the finish with the finish time on it. Then Cyclo-X Nationals in Kansas City last year there were officiating screw ups in lots of catagories. Including the Elite men. Now again. I think that in events of this caliber, the best officials should be there and the errors shouldn’t occur. It is more common than not. These stage races cost around $200 to enter. This money is to pay for a service. The service is to provide the venue and infrastructure to compete in a bicycle race. But this service hasn’t been performed with they don’t have correct results. Even worse, when they say you didn’t finish the race when you obviously did. Maybe a good remedy would be for the race to have to refund the entry fee of the riders that haven’t been given the results they deserve. For alot of the Pro riders, it doesn’t matter. But, for the weekend warrior, it is very important and something that needs to be addressed. That’s my 2 cents worth."
"Anyway, when I checked the results driving home, they had left myself and a Nick Coil out of the results. Had us down as DNF’s. I don’t care, but I do have an issue with bad officiating. Nature Valley two years ago they said I DNF’d and I was in the top 20 overall. On a hilly criterium. I had a photo of the finish with the finish time on it. Then Cyclo-X Nationals in Kansas City last year there were officiating screw ups in lots of catagories. Including the Elite men. Now again. I think that in events of this caliber, the best officials should be there and the errors shouldn’t occur. It is more common than not. These stage races cost around $200 to enter. This money is to pay for a service. The service is to provide the venue and infrastructure to compete in a bicycle race. But this service hasn’t been performed with they don’t have correct results. Even worse, when they say you didn’t finish the race when you obviously did. Maybe a good remedy would be for the race to have to refund the entry fee of the riders that haven’t been given the results they deserve. For alot of the Pro riders, it doesn’t matter. But, for the weekend warrior, it is very important and something that needs to be addressed. That’s my 2 cents worth."
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Tour of Turkey Final Spint
What is Theo Bos doing? Somebody should have been penalized. Don't take your hands off the handlebars. Leave that to the other guys at the Rose Bowl.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
LA Circuit, circa 07
The Pack -- out in the wind
It's a looong backstretch...
Pulling the field to keep the pace high into the wind -- don't do this
My favorite photo of all time -- courtesy of Josh Horowitz's article in pez on what not to do in a race.
What the finish looks like -- one big mess
Monday, February 23, 2009
Crit tactics
Gentlemen,
As I sit here thawing from a 28º, 30 mile ride (that's all I can do before the water in my bottles freezes solid), I'm thinking of all the racing that's yet to start for me here on the East Coast. One of the things I do regularly is check up on Rashan Bahati's blog. Of special interest to me is the 2nd to last paragraph. Give it a shot, let me know how it goes. Meanwhile, I'll be flying the LG colors starting in late March at Milport RR in Eastern Pennsylvania. Blow their logs off kids, particularly this weekend in Nevada.
Andres
Monday, February 16, 2009
Thursday, December 25, 2008
NoCal
Pine Flat Road Race is Feb 15th this year, kids. Best race I've ever done. Stunningly beautiful, and it has an uphill finish (Alan). If someone has a spare 58cm bike, I'll hop a plane from Philly to Fresno.
Happy Holidays from the chilly East Coast!
Andres
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Santa Barbara 'Cross
Elings Park, Santa Barbara... end of last week.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
