Tour announcements and verbal jabs...

With the announcement of the 2006 Tour de France route came some not so unexpected verbal jabs from across the pond. Then, as expected, verbal jabs flew back. It looks like we will have to endure this junk as the post Lance era of the Tour. Two wrongs always make at right don't they???

Saturday Night Live (tonight) will be filled with scathing skits aimed at the Tour leaders and the French. Dick Pound and WADA you won't be exempt either... Actually this will be the best venue for Lance to vent his emotions. It's all in good fun, isn't it???

Perhaps, Jerry Springer can get in on this. I can just see it. Jean Marie and Lance squaring off with Jerry and then Cheryl comes to the support of her man by making cat like snarles. Then Johann comes in via video and tells Lance "can you believe they cut the team time trial?" Then a close up of Lance's nostrils flairing. Let's get down and dirty...cycling deserves this, doesn't it????

Now...my gripe with the Tour. What's this...no team time trial??? Are you nuts??? Have you lost your mind??? If you really want to keep the Tour de France as the race of races...then the team time trial is an absolute necessity. Keep it a total team event. Make the teams work as teams in each aspect of the Tour.

Here's my advise:
Lance - shut up and retire
Johann - shut up and direct your team
Jean Marie - shut up and race direct/retire or whatever you do now besides run your mouth

Just shut up. Do you really think cycling gives a rip about your petty, childlike hatred??? Let's save the drama for the sprints and the climbs...

steelrider2

Glad Wilma has left the building...

It just makes my heart hurt to see people suffer, especially those Floridians with whom I have so much in common. I have co-workers in Naples, Bonita Springs and Fort Myers as well as Fort Lauderdale and West Palm. I haven't heard a thing from any of them. In watching the videos, I think it could have been much worse. Although, I certainly wouldn't say that to anyone who lost their home or other belongings. I am making plans to go to Naples as soon as possible to help.

If you can't donate any more to the Red Cross, please come to Florida for a vacation. We are open for business!!! And we'll enjoy having you. Bring your bike...let's ride!!!

Deja Vu all over again...

Seems pretty simple...watch hurricane tracking chart for a week...prepare to evecuate...throw everything that's uninsurable into the car...drive like heck. We Floridians should have the routine down, you'd think...it never gets any easier. But it's the price you pay to live in paradise. This week was absolute beautiful. But it was the calm before the storm.

I am reminded of the devestation of Katrina, Ivan, Charlie and Rita. I have been helping a family that moved to Jacksonville from New Orleans as a result of them loosing everything they owned. Could life get any harder? I sure don't think so. Now I am reminded of the floods a few years ago in the Mid-West. I am reminded of the earthquake earlier this year and several years ago out West. That's just in this country. The world has experienced it share of tradegy as well.

I think I'll go back to sleep...the nightmares are better than real life.

This why I live in Florida...

Weather today is a perfect 75 without a cloud in the sky. I think I'm going to have Fridayitist...surely there is something I can do outside today. I'd love to ride to work. I think I will....see ya

What do WE have have to do...

What do we have to do to earn the respect of the general public, specifically the driving public. In the post below a cyclist was shot while riding. Obviously part of the answer lies with the driving public. There is just going to be a cross section of drivers that are going to hate us and some that will never see us. But then there is a group that is ambivelent. This is where we as cyclists have our greatest challenge. The answer lies in what we are willing to do to change their minds. Are we willing to obey the traffic laws and rules of the road. Are we willing to use headlights and blinkies even though we'd rather not. Are we willing to join bike clubs and develop a one voice positive attitude. Are we willing to not give people the finger when the get too close or honk at us.

What does the cycling industry have to do to sell more bikes. This question has been tossed around some other blogs in the last few days. Part of the answer is going to come from how innovative the bike industry is at developing its product and marketing its product. The other part of the answer comes from cyclists themselves. In my mind cyclings biggest negative is cyclists (well some of cyclists) Those arrogant condesending folks that think you must ride at 27 plus mph on every ride, that think you must have a $5000 plus machine before you are accepted into their group. These folks never volunteer for a community project in the name of their cycling club. They never agree to hold a bike rodeo at a local elementary school on a Saturday instead of going on their long ride. They never do anything to get positive recognition for themselves or the industry...they leave it up to others. I have a very wise friend who has a saying that applies here. "If everybody does a little, then nobody has to do a lot." If we treated cycling as the gift it is and didn't take it for granted more people would join us.

Am I going to solve all of cyclings problems...no! But hopefully I can change one person...then they can change one.

If you're reading this and wondering how you can help...go to your club or local bike shop and ask where you can make a difference. Actually give some thought to how you can start something instead of waiting for someone else to tell you what to do. Make a dirrerence today. Decide that you have a responsibility to cycling other than riding.

What's up with this...

Andrea Ratkovic Shot At While Cycling View comments about this article!
Former professional cyclist and current professional triathlete/duathlete, Andrea Ratkovic, was shot on Monday October 10th at approximately 1:15 pm while riding her bike. Ratkovic was riding on a bike path when a car in the road lane closest to her opened fire with a small caliber gun firing several shots but only hitting her once in the lower back.

Three day weekends are great...

I work in an industry that get more than its fair share of holidays. Whenever there is a 3 day weekend I make the best of it. Anytime I can get 6 ½ hours in over a weekend, it's just fine. The weather in Florida has improved; its dry with moderate temps.

New ride...

Below is my new fixed gear bike. I looked long and hard to come up with exactly the right combination of frame, components and cost. Cost being a major factor. There's no doubt that I would liked to have had a Masi, but they didn't produce it for the fall. Maybe in the spring. Since I want to ride immediately, I decided on the Langster. The price was definitely right.

So far, I've ridden it a total of 30 minutes. Rainy in Florida and busy at work. Better info forthcoming. I did put a 17t fixed cog opposite the freewheel. I like it alot. Training starts in a week or so.

Haven't had a chance to get pics from my camera. But this is the new ride. So far haven't changed a thing. But it rides awesome. 

ok...I'm Baaaacccckkkk.

Ok...no mention of any family stuff. None. Not even a proud Dad will comment. Bikes only here.

steelrider2

The road ends here.....

Today I had a frank discussion about this blog with one of my family members. They just didn't like that I included some personal stuff and truely do not understand why I would want to blog. Since I value my family much more than the blogsphere, steelrider2 will be deleted October 7. I can say it has been fun and have enjoyed getting to know other bloggers. However out of true respect, I will not continue. I will continue to read several blogs and from time to time make a comment.

Fixed Gear Dreams

I would like to have been at Interbike this week to see the number fixed gear/track bikes coming out this year. From what I’ve seen, it looks like most everyone is expanding to include a fixed gear trainer and/or a higher end track bike. One of other blogs I frequently read www.fixedgear.blogspot.com has covered some of the new arrivals. I have cut and pasted several of his posts to include his comments here.

Obviously it is becoming a new sub-market in the Road Bike arena. It appears that there will be a fixed gear ride in Jacksonville starting a little later in the fall.

Enjoy this info. Thanks, Fixed Gear. He has compiled some great research.

The Cannondale Major Taylor track bike is named after cycling legend Marshall 'Major' Taylor. Aluminum frames, carbon fork, 46 x 16, Dura-Ace hubs, crank and cog. A 54cm model - my size - has 73 degree head tube and 75 degree seat tube angle, making this a real track machine.

The Motobecane Messenger brings back a venerable French brand name. This bike looks like a good value, at $795 MSRP which means a street price of $700 or so. All chrome-moly frame and fork, 48 x 16, flip-flop hub with track cog and freewheel, TruVativ crank, and front and rear brakes. I can't find the geometry on their web site.

The Co-Motion Streaker is spendy at $2,395 for the complete bike, but what a bike it is. Aluminum frame, Chris King headset, Flite saddle, White Industries hubs, and a Shimano long-reach front brake mated to a custome carbon fork makes adding fenders a snap. 73/74 angles means it is a little less 'track-y' than the C'Dale.

Too much? How about a Raleigh Rush Hour for $600? Butted chrome-moly frame, TruVativ crank, 48 x 16 free/15 fixed, two brakes, ready to go. Also 74/75 angles, more track like.

The Specialized Langster has an Aluminum frame with double-butted tubing. The fork is alloy (i.e steel) with a Cr-Mo steerer. The bike is ready for street use with front and rear dual pivot brakes. With a 48t chainring and a 16t Shimano freewheel it is geared a little high but it is “fixed-gear compatible” which I guess means you can add a track cog and lock ring and be ready to go. It also features a KMC Z-510HX, 1/2" x 3/32" chain with “anti-drop inner links.’ Never heard of this chain but it sounds good. The geometry is a compromise between true track geometry and road geometry, with a sloping top tube and track fork ends. It has 32 hole Alex rims laced to Specialized hubs. It has a square taper BB and a Specialized 170mm crank. Street price is around $500, a good deal.

The Lemond Fillmore has a True Temper OX Platinum steel frame (nice pipes) with a Bontrager Race Carbon fork. It has front a rear dual pivot brakes. With a 44 tooth chainring driving a 16 tooth Dura Ace cog, this bike is ready to ride. Truvativ splined BB and carbon seatpost. It has a Bontrager bolt on rear wheel with a QR front. Geometry looks slightly less aggressive than the Langster which should make for a very comfy ride. Street price is about a grand.

The Fuji Track has a chrome-moly butted frame and fork. This bike doesn’t come with brakes. It does have a 48X16 drivetrain, a little tall for beginners, and comes with clip and strap pedals. 32 spoke wheels, and the geometry is similar to the Fillmore. MSRP is $500, street price is a little less which should leave some money in the budget for a brake and lever, and a set of pedals.

The KHS Flite 100 has a Reynolds double-butted chrome-moly frame and fork. No brakes here either, also features a 48x16 drivetrain with a Truvativ crank driving a Dura-Ace cog. This bike also comes with clips and strap pedals and has a MSRP of $659 with a street price a little lower.

The Bianchi Pista is the most shiny of the bikes, with its chrome frame. It has a double butted chrome moly frame and fork. Also has a 48x16 drivetrain and I’m sensing a trend here. 32 hole Alex rims laced to Bianchi hubs. No brakes, but comes with double sided SPD style pedals. Track-like geometry and a MSRP of $550 which means real price should be around $500.

The Rivendell Quickbeam is the strangest ‘fixed gear’ bike you will ever see. Double butted chrome moly frame and fork, lugged, brazed in Japan. Strange four speed drivetrain has flip flop hub with two freewheels and two chain rings. Cantilever brakes, huge tire clearance. Run it as a fixed gear road bike, single speed cyclocross bike or anything in between. Takes fenders easily. Has huge 32mm tires. Relaxed road geometry, long wheelbase. Nitto bar, stem and seatpost. $1,300 plus shipping but you will be the only kid on your block to have one.

The Saint John's Street Cycles fixed wheel bike is now available as a ready to ride bike. Double butted Tange tubing. Mavic MA3s laced to Sovos flip flop rear hub and SunTour XC QR front hub (nice!), 44 tooth chain ring and ‘sprocket of your choice, SKS fenders(!) front and rear long reach brakes and levers, your choice of bar width and stem length. $750 plus shipping ($50-$100).