TdF thoughts...

Am I excited about the TdF? Yes, but in different ways than in years past. What excites me this year is to see if any of the Americans, besides LA, continue having a great year. I'm interested to see what stupid Basque antics will be televised. Sure would like to see Bobby J. and/or Levi L. on the podium. Will be interesting to see if Floyd L. has the supporting cast to make it to the top 5...probably not. I think it will be very interesting to see how Chris H. performs...what a year!!

It's evident that Americans are becoming the worlds premier cyclists in the US and Europe.

Does LA or the thought of his winning #7 excite me? Quite honestly....no. If he does, ok...if he doesn't, ok..... I will be interested in how OLN relates to cycling going forward. I'm afraid that the many boneheads who have such negative comments will cause OLN to reconsider it's commitment to cycling.

You boneheads know who you are....commenting as though you were professional media executives on the announcers. I don't care if Al Trautwig doesn't have a clue. OLN is showing cycling and the sport is being advanced. I don't care if Bob Roll says Tour DAY France. He has his own personal reasons, but OLN is showing cycling and the sport is being advanced. I don't care if Kirsten Gum has a crush on Tyler H. or whatever else she is or isn't doing. OLN is showing cycling and the sport is being advanced. Don't you guys get it??? OLN is showing cycling and the sport is being advanced. Announcers will come and go. What's important is that OLN knows they have a supportive audience, that the advertisers get some bang for their bucks and that cycling continues to be televised and the sport grows.

Your comments on my thoughts are welcomed and appreciated. Your original thoughts are also appreciated.

steelrider2

Ok, there's a tinge of jealousy...

Today's Florida Times-Union newspaper had an article about the Dick Lane Velodrome in Atlanta reopening after a group of concerned cyclists raised over $200,000 to renovate the track. Not only that but they held the Southeast Regional Championships/Elite Qualifier today. It also looks like they need a few more bucks to get the job done correctly. Having raised money for other sport venues, I know they would appreciate any help they could get.

So now the closest tracks to Jacksonville are in south Atlanta and north Miami. 6 hours away either way you go. I dunno how much a velodrome costs these days but it would be great if we had one in Jacksonville.

Anyone in Jax have any info? What is the temperature of the cyclists in Jax concerning a velodrome? I think it would be a cool idea. Comments?

Dodging the rain drops...

We were extremely lucky today that we got the children's swim meet in. We dodged rain drops all morning. Both my son and daughter did well. I am one of the parent volunteers and my job today was to judge stroke and turn. Yeah, I disqualified a few swimmers and a few relays, but to be the best you must be technically sound.

I had my ride scheduled for the afternoon, but the tropical depression had other thoughts. On our way home from the meet, the bottom fell out and has rained all afternoon....bummer. So...naptime!!! Hopefully I can get a long ride in tomorrow.

Below are a few pics from the swim meet. I'm really liking this new camera.

steelrider2

My daughter's stroke of choice is breaststroke...she was second in her heat today in 13-14 age group!!!! 

My son, Cam, had a great meet...second place in backstroke in 6 and under!!!! 

While Cali is shaking...the other side is considering its existence 

My QR. Nice ride. But would like to upgrade someday. But for now it'll do just fine. 

My wife's Gran Corsa. Perfect for her. Light and fast 

My 2004 Speciale Carbon...with a few trade outs. Traded to a 53-39 carbon crank, and a San Marco Rever seat 

And the winner is....

We’re just about caught up. I had been thinking for sometime that my wife really needed a new bike. So I began my search. I went into this without any preconceived ideas on what to buy. I wanted the best bike, with the right component mix and at the right price. I looked at Cannondale, Trek, Giant, Lemond, Specialized, Litespeed and Felt. I liked certain things about each. But during a recent trip to Nashville's Gran Fondo Bicycles, I found exactly what I was looking for. So, for Christmas 2004, I purchased my wife a Masi Gran Corsa and a Masi Speciale Carbon for myself. We sold the red bike, now she has a “white” bike. But I think she understands that the Masi is a great bike with a ton of history. As for me, I am quite enamored with my Speciale Carbon. Cycling has become even more fun now. My wife and I ride together more. I believe the Masi brand has exceptional quality, great looks and easily has received most favored status.

I still read and dote over ever picture in the bike catalogs. My 2004 Masi catalog is dog eared. Thankfully I am on the mailing list for about five or six catalog companies. Those once a month catalogs feed my bike obsession when not out riding.

I consider my Masi Speciale Carbon as my primary bike, although I still train on the QR. It’s an awesome shiny, high gloss, black Dedacciai steel/carbon frame. I never thought I’d ride another steel bike. Hence the blog name.

I have also developed a wish list for other bikes.

1. Masi fixed gear bike( available in 2006, hopefully)
2. Masi classic steel made using handcrafted lugs.
3. Masi TT/Triathlon (sometime in the future)
4. Masi 3VS scandium racing frame…it would be a build project.

As any one who’s married knows, being allowed to purchase four more bikes would take some fancy talking. That’s why we have wish lists.

Plugging a great product...

Some of you probably have a cycling coach. Others just get out there and ride like heck. I’ve tried both, but have come up with what now works great for me. I have this really cool computer based training program that interfaces with my heart rate monitor that functions as my coach. It’s called PC Coach. Perhaps some of you have heard of it.

I use a Polar 720i HRM and PC Coach Cycling. The author of the program was the late Dr. Ed Burke. It is an incredible program. Dr. Burke was an incredible coach. His memory lives on in this wonderful program and the books he authored. Along with the hrm I use the speed and cadence sensors. It is amazing what kind of data you can retrieve from your rides. Let's see..I'm a blog geek, bike geek and now a data geek. If I could just find a stylish pocket protector...but I digress.

PC Coach allows you to set up your current fitness level, determine the intensity you want and then program a race or race season. The feedback PC Coach provides is phenomenal. The sales person/technical advisor, Rebecca, is great. No question is too dumb. Or so she tells me. Not only does PC Coach sell the program, they can also advise you on which HRM might be best for you.

I highly recommend PC Coach and a companion Polar HRM.

Steep seat angles and complications...

By 1995, after only a few weeks of training on the Le Tour, I decided I needed a triathlon bike. The Le Tour was made of steel and was just too heavy. The aluminum bikes were lighter and stiffer and exactly what a budding triathlete needed. I finally convinced my wife I needed it. By that time, there were no more Schwinn shops. Schwinn had been sold by the founding family and maybe even filed bankruptcy once or twice. So, I purchased a black Cannondale MS800 from my a local bike shop. But the Schwinn went back into the garage.

The Cannondale was their entry level tri bike. The bike shop guy convinced me I needed the model on the floor. “It’s a perfect fit,” he said. NOT! It was too big and I didn’t discover that until my back began to hurt. Still I raced on that Cannondale for more than a year with a sore back. Luckily, a person needing a tri bike saw my ad and purchased it for exactly what I bought it for.

With the money I made on the Cannondale, plus a little extra, I graduated to a more triathlon specific black Quintana Roo. What a wonderful bike. I purchased it from a QR dealer far away, after being sized properly at a triathlon. I probably have 12,000 miles on that bike. I just love riding my bike. The Quintana Roo has served me well. After several minor crashes and a mishap with the bike, car, roof rack and garage door, the QR is still going strong. Opps…hate it when that happens.

After purchasing the QR, my wife and I had our second child. Due to pregnancy complications, she could no longer run so decided to take up cycling. The Schwinn Le Tour got dusted off again to yet another life. Although it didn’t fit her very well, it was close enough that she caught the cycling bug. She rode it for a few years. The Le Tour served our family well for many years. We eventually traded it for a lighter and smaller used “red” Cannondale. My wife couldn’t care less what kind of bike it was, but she knew the color. She rode that “red’ bike for four years and completed four MS 150 bike tours. She has developed into an awesome cyclist.

FYI...

Crashes...not the kind we cause between ourselves...but the kind between cyclists and vehicles. It happens far too frequently. My Hammerhead Racing teammate, Giselle Carson, a Jacksonville attorney, has written an excellent article that is helpful in understanding your car insurance. How many times have you heard of a cyclist being hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. This is compounded if you are uninsured or underinsured.

Now, before an accident, would be a great time to read the article by Chris Burns, another Jacksonville attorney, on how to protect your rights. Most of us have families and need to understand this stuff. Here's the article:

If you ride, you need to understand your automobile insurance coverage.

Cyclists are at great risk of being injured by negligent, inattentive, careless drivers. Often these same drivers are the ones driving without insurance, in violation of State laws, or with minimal insurance coverage. If you ride, you need to be proactive about your insurance coverage. The best way to be protected is to obtain adequate automobile coverage of your own. Following is a general review of the types of coverage that can be of benefit to an injured cyclist.

1) Bodily Injury / Property Damage Liability. It pays for injuries and property damage that the insured causes to someone else. Under Florida law, vehicle owners are only required to carry $10,000 of property damage liability. Damages to your bicycle will be covered by these funds. Florida law does not require bodily injury coverage. Therefore, if the at-fault driver elected not to have bodily injury coverage and had the minimum required property damage coverage, you are practically left with paying for your bills.

2) Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or No-fault. This type of coverage is required in Florida. It is primary to other benefits i.e. will cover damages suffered by the insured up to the policy limit, regardless of fault. Most policies pay for losses and expenses up to $10,000 per person, per accident. If you have a deductible, your benefits are significantly reduced because the deductible is subtracted from the damages after they are reduced by the applicable PIP percentages as outlined below.

The purpose of the PIP statute is to reduce litigation for relatively small claims and to provide the injured person with quick payment for certain expenses. PIP pays 80% of all reasonable medical expenses, including surgical, medical testing, dental, ambulance services, rehabilitative services and medical devices. It also covers 60% of gross wages lost due to the injury and all reasonable expenses incurred for household services normally performed by the injured person. A claim for PIP benefits does not lead to an automatic increase on your insurance rate.

3) Uninsured motorist. If the party responsible for your injuries does not have insurance or is underinsured and you opted to purchase UM coverage; then, you can make a claim under your UM policy to cover your damages. Your insurer must offer you UM coverage in an amount equal to your automobile liability insurance. However, your UM coverage cannot be higher than your liability coverage. Therefore, you may need to increase your bodily injury/property damage limits, in order to obtain a reasonable amount of UM coverage.

In Florida, the UM policy can be stacked. If you opt for stacking coverage you can increase the limits of your coverage by the number of cars insured under your policy. For example, if your UM coverage is $100,000 per person and you have a stacking policy and two cars; then, you have $200,000 of coverage.

To collect under your UM policy, at least four factors must be present: 1) you must have been involved in an accident which was not your fault; 2) you sustained bodily injuries; 3) the driver that caused your injuries must be an uninsured motorist or not have enough insurance to cover your losses and 4) if the at-fault driver is insured, you must make a claim to the driver’s insurance. To protect your right to recover under your UM policy, you should not settle the claim with the at-fault driver insurer without obtaining permission from your insurer. Otherwise, your ability to recover from your insurer may be limited or denied. However, you may have a claim against your insurer, if your insurer unreasonably interferes with the settlement efforts.

In Florida, you can collect for pain and suffering resulting from your injuries if you have a permanent injury as defined by statute. See below Fla. Stat. section 627.737(2). You can also recover for these damages without meeting the permanency threshold, if the at fault driver has no PIP coverage. The value of your pain and suffering claim is often calculated as a multiplier of your medical bills. This value can range from 1 to 10 times depending on the severity and types of injuries sustained.

Fla. Stat. section 627.737(2) states that a plaintiff may recover damages in tort for pain, suffering, mental anguish, and inconvenience because of bodily injury, sickness, or disease arising out of the ownership, maintenance, operation, or use of such motor vehicle only in the event that the injury or disease consists in whole or in part of:
(a) Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function.
(b) Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, other than scarring or disfigurement.
(c) Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement.
(d) Death.

Giselle Carson is an attorney with Marks Gray, P.A. in Jacksonville and a member of Hammerhead Racing. This article is reprinted by permission and is not intended as legal advice.

I know some of you will not be Florida residents, so check with a local cycling attorney and insurance agent in your area.

Too cool for school

Nothing much happened with my cycling during the high school years. I was too cool. I had replaced my bike with a car. If I didn’t drive, I walked. Fast forward to my 19th birthday. I received a 1976 Cutlass Supreme. The chicks were impressed, but the local police weren’t. I got caught for speeding three times in a four month time frame. After the second speeding ticket, my Dad told me if I got another, I would loose my license and my car. I loved to push the limits, especially the speed limits. The Friday night I got my third speeding ticket, I got home very late. On Saturday morning before a got up, Dad found my keys, cleaned out my car and drove it away. How did he know what had happened? As it turned out, a nosy neighbor was listening to the police scanner and heard the officer call in my information. The neighbor phoned my Dad immediately. I never saw the car again. My parents informed me I would have to catch a ride with friends or walk. They would not give me a ride, except to church. All I could think about was how totally uncool going on dates would be.

The next week I begged my Mom to take me to the Schwinn shop. I had saved up enough money from odd jobs and my lawn mowing gig, that I was able to purchase a Schwinn Le Tour. It was a baby blue 10 speed. It was the top of the line Schwinn, I think. Once again, Schwinn was my bike of choice. I had forgotten how fun it was to ride. When I went back to college in the fall, I took my bike, not a car. It was difficult at first but I adjusted. I used the bike to make me stand out. I rode to classes, rode a lot on weekends, even to the beach. Charleston, SC didn’t have much in the way of bike groups or races. So I was pretty much the only person my age riding. A few wigged out professor types rode to class as well.

A year later, I had improved my grades so I asked for a car. Dad bought me an old used car. Actually it was a junker. It was wheels, so the Le Tour went in the garage beside the little green Stingray. They were happy together. I graduated from college, got married and moved far away. No bikes in my life.

In 1987, my parents moved and they offered me those two bikes. What was I thinking? Dad made me take the Le Tour and I suggested he sell the Stingray. He did and got $30.00 for it. WHAT WAS I thinking? The Le Tour then stayed in my garage. I moved several times and the years passed. My wife tried to sell it more than once. But I refused on the basis that cycling was a good cross training activity for my running. My wife and I agreed that if I rode at least four times in a year, she wouldn’t sell it. At age 38, after running a few marathons, with some major pain, my friend and sports medicine man, suggested I try triathlon. Once again, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed cycling. The Le Tour came out of the garage. I had it tuned up. New tires, brake pads and cables and I was ready to ride.

The Stingray

It was Christmas 1966. I was now on the mailing list for the Schwinn catalog. I knew every bike by heart in the catalog. I dreamed of owning a Schwinn Stingray. On Christmas morning I awoke to the most beautiful Stingray I had ever seen. It was a forest green bike. The 3 speed gear shifter was on the top tube. Fast was the name of the game.

By that time, I was riding with classmates instead of neighbors. I had to ride a few blocks to meet them. The summer of ’67 my friends and I found a vacant lot a few blocks away. Trucks had dumped small mounds of dirt the summer before and by then had hardened and made for an excellent race course and awesome jumps. We called it “The Hills.” I rode around that course at least 10,000 times. We even had our parents come down one evening and watch us race. My first crit. It was so cool. My Stingray was the envy of the neighborhood. And it seemed like it was built just for jumping. I rarely lost in competition.

While going to “the Hills” I had to pass a house that had a big mean German shepherd. A little boy, maybe 3, lived there. Almost every time I went by, they were in the yard and the boy would yell to the dog, “thick’em.” This is exactly where my sprinting skills were developed. I had no idea I could out run that big mean dog. My heart rate had to be redlining. That stuff got old after a few weeks so I decided to take matters into my own hands, literally. I jerry rigged a set of clamps onto the long rear seat post and found an old croquet mallet. Drilled a hole in the handle and threaded a leather strap. I was ready for that dog. The next time he chased me I yanked the mallet off my bike and played polo with his head. After a few knots on his head, the dog quit bothering me.

The following fall, I decided to sell Christmas greeting cards. I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted a second bike. It was a red 26” Huffy. I sold a lot of greeting cards that fall; enough to purchase that red Huffy. That’s when I became aware of the fact that all bikes were not created equal. When the box came I remember being so excited. Dad and I built it that night. I built while Dad supervised. After finishing, I told Dad I had made a mistake. I wished they had offered a Schwinn as a prize. That Huffy lasted maybe four months. It went to the trash shortly thereafter. Nothing but a Schwinn would ever be good enough after that. Besides, Huffy didn’t have a cool catalog like Schwinn.

Then came the 7th grade and Gail. I can't even remember her last name. But her Mom drove a blue vette. Girls, music, Jr. High activities and team sports all took a front seat to bike riding. It wasn’t cool anymore. I guess I turned off and tuned out. But the little green Stingray stay tucked away in the garage.

I couldn't stop laughing...

...when I read this. I'll apologize now to the author for publishing her stuff. I thought this would be a nice diversion from my bike stories. Here goes...

DEFINITION OF A BBQ
It's the only type of cooking a real man will do. When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are put into motion:
1) The woman buys the food.
2) The woman makes the salad, vegetables, and dessert.
3) The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill, with a drink.
4) The man places the meat on the grill.
5) The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.
6) The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is burning. He thanks her and asks if she will bring another drink while he deals with the situation.
7) The man takes the meat off the grill and hands it to the woman.
8) The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauces, and brings them to the table.
9) After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.
10) Everyone praises the man and thanks him for his cooking efforts.
11) The man asks the woman how she enjoyed "her night off." And, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing some women!

Boy, this hits close to home!!!
Chip

Chapter 2 rebuilding my first bike

The summer after finishing the second grade, I thought I had outgrown my 20” Skipper. However, Dad had a plan. Back to our favorite Schwinn shop we went looking for an upgrade. There were more catalogs and many more choices. Most of my friends had fallen for the rage of high handlebars and banana seats. Schwinn had introduced the Stingray. I was in awe. But Dad’s plan was a good one. He purchased a new seat and handlebars from the Schwinn shop and had the bike rebuilt one day while I was away with Mom. I couldn’t believe it; my wonderful Skipper was transformed into a cool machine like all the other kids had. It was like having a new bike.

For 2 more years I tooled around on my Skipper. I went every where. During school, I couldn’t wait to get home to ride. When summer came, I couldn’t wait to get up and ride. Whether it was with my friends or by myself, I just loved to ride.

During the first week of the 4th grade I had a major set back. One day after school, I disobeyed my Mom and rode off by myself with only a pair of shorts. I was riding down a street we called “The Dip.” It was a street that had a steep down hill only to have an immediate steep up hill. Somehow as I was riding down this street, I lost control and crashed. I broke my jaws in five places, cut a four inch gash in my chin and broke two teeth. I was a sight. Blood was everywhere. It took a long time before the neighbors could get my name and telephone number so they could call my parents.

I was in the hospital for two weeks. My jaws were wired shut for 9 weeks. Thankfully, I was young and wasn’t hurt worse. My parents were furious with me. They soon forgave me. Dad always had good advice. He made me get back on the bike as soon as the wires came out of my mouth. Even though the fear of the crash was in the back of my mind, I still loved riding my bike and rode almost every day, much more carefully.

My Introduction

Bicycling started for me at 6 years old. With an April birthday, the weather where I lived was nice enough to get outside around my birthday. I remember it as if it were yesterday. I had been asking for a bicycle. Many of the kids in my neighborhood had bikes. So, a few weeks before my 6th birthday, my Dad and I drove what seemed like an eternity to get to the local Schwinn shop. We looked at many bikes. I remember being overwhelmed with the color selection and styles. Although we didn’t purchase a bike that day, we did come home with a Schwinn catalog.

I looked at that catalog for hours on end. It had every bicycle Schwinn made. If I still had it today, it would surely be a collector’s item. Anyway, early the morning of my birthday my Dad and I drove to the Schwinn shop. That day I became the proud owner of a black Schwinn Skipper, a 20 incher with training wheels and handlebar streamers. I was the proudest person alive. I also remember feeling it was one of the best times I ever had with my Dad.

By Saturday afternoon, I had ridden around the driveway a thousand times. I informed my Dad I was ready to remove the training wheels and be like the others. My Dad counseled me that he didn’t think I was ready. I needed to give it a few weeks. I was six. I wasn’t a baby! What did he know? So, I’m sure against his better judgment, he removed the training wheels.

There was however, one caveat. Dad told me that once the training wheels came off, they wouldn’t go back on. I pleaded that I was ready. I even went to convince my Mom. All she told me was the same Dad had said. “Why don’t you wait, Son?” About 4:00 p.m. I convinced Dad that the training wheels should come off. Off they came. What I didn’t know at the time was that bike riding was an acquired skill not intuitive.

Since we lived on a relatively short cul-de-sac, I knew it would be a breeze to motor down to the end of the street and back. Just like the other kids. My Dad, like any good Dad, had a plan, although unknown to me. He called one of his friends at the other end of street and asked him to step outside to see if I would make it to the other end. Dad propped me up on the bike and gave me a shove. All I remember was hearing him yell, “pedal, Son, pedal” over and over again. Swerving from one side of the street to the other, I made it to the end. I’m sure my eyes were as big as saucers. I will never forget that feeling the first time I rode down the street. Total freedom.

Although I didn’t crash, it was truly beginners luck. The friend at the other end of the street caught me. Turned me around and shoved me in the direction of Dad. I fell. Not deterred, I tried again. I fell again. After trying several tries and several bumps and bruises, I swallowed my pride and walked my bike back home and begged my Dad to put the training wheels back on. He was true to his word; I never saw those training wheels again. Within a week, though, I was riding up and down the street with all my friends.

The summer of 1964, after the first grade, I spent a large majority of my time riding with my friends. We had bike rodeos, bike races; we even had a repair seminar given by one of the 9 year olds. My love for riding had developed quite nicely. As the summer drew to a close, my Dad saw how much I loved riding so he purchased an adult 28” Schwinn bicycle and we rode together many times. I will always remember that summer with my first bike.