More TV Time, More Trainer time. Racing in T-5 days

And counting.

Well, kids, it looks like uncle Christophe was on TV again (thanks again to Jason for pointing it out) . looks like the VS network has taken a liking to the clip of me giving Floyd Landis one of my T-shirts (which can be found on sale HERE) . They've been selling pretty well, by the way. I've received a ton of positive comments about the "Free Floyd" shirts. I'm guessing they might be using this TV footage for some time (until the fiasco clears up). I'm really glad that VS has been making an effort to report on the situation in Pro-cycling in an even manner. That one network has provided more fair and balanced coverage on Floyd than any other major news source out there (although Trustbutverify could show everyone a thing or two). I find that comforting. Hopefully it's enough to bring more awareness to the true state of what's going on and how it's threatening the sport we all love. The more people know the true facts, the more public pressure there will be to do something about it.


I guess I should begin to reap the rewards of my fame and celebrity. Frankly, all I want is a lifetime supply of Assos Chamois cream and a flock of nude virgins to apply it. I'm sure that can be arranged for a Z-list celebrity such as myself...

Enough with my delusions.

The cold finally broke on Saturday, and by the "cold breaking," I mean it was a high of 53 degrees. I jumped out of bed, slapped on my early spring gear (base layer, short jersey, arm warmers, and knickers) as well as my obnoxious and commemorative Hincapie sunglasses, and off i went. I ended up riding 75 wonderful miles. some alone, some with my teammate Nate Follow the link for hit flickr site, he's a great photographer- and was the one that shot me for the Maxxis tire shoot- see below:



Anyway, enough of my narcissistic meanderings (wait, isn't the the whole point of having a blog?)

The ride was fantastic. I felt like a kid again (a kid with a $5000 racing bike and a heart rate monitor, but a kid nonetheless). I went across the GWB and headed up to Nyack via river road- doing a few hill repeats on the way. When I got to Piermont I met up with Nate. We met up at the Piermont bike shop and decided to extend our trip a little. we bikes out to Rockland State park and did a victory lap of it. as we were doing our lap, a cold front came in. Good job not remembering your wind vest, Christophe! It got colder, and my fingers started to numb a little. As we rode, though, we warmed up, and it was more than tolerable on the way back. I'm feeling pretty decent about my conditioning, although I won't really be able to tell until Saturday- my first road race of the season.

Hoo-rah. I can't wait to slap my race wheels back on my bike- my Eurus's have been sitting in their campy wheel bags waiting to go for a ride. Only 5 more days.

It's only a CRCA club race in central park, but it will be my 2nd road race yet. I'm planning on sticking with the pack and not trying anything stupid (unless I can find some accomplices to do so) The last thing i want is a broken collarbone or a snapped frame on the 1st race of the season.

I'm looking forward to it.

Am I ready? I don't know. I'm definitely in the best riding shape of my life, although I feel like I've slacked off the past week or so (although it was a rest week). I may just experiencing late term it's-been-a-long-trainer-season-and-I don't-want-to-see-that-godforsaken-thing-for-another-8-months-psychoses. (you can tell by the look on my face)


I also should quit eating like an ass hole.

The race is 4 park laps, about 25 mi. no biggie.

Here's to not coming in last!

Poor George! Churning and Burning

It's been a relatively sluggish weekend. I've been making it outside for rides, as well as some endurance work on the trainer but nothing intense, and nothing near the 3 hr trainer torture fests that I'm supposed to be doing. I really should get on that- the Spring series Races start in a week.



The new saddle came in, and It's offered my crotch much-needed relief. I'll have to take it on longer rides to see how it does, but its definitely made trainer time a tad more bearable. Anyway, I needed an excuse to add more carbon to the bike...



the Trainer Movie of the week award goes to: Run Lola Run. It was up on my Netflix Queue today, and is a great movie to churn to. a Great German techno soundtrack accompanies the manic pace and is well suited for trainer time. However, it's a bit short, (80 min) so you'll have to piggy back it with another movie.

I took the fixed gear out for an hour yesterday just to switch things up. It reminds me that coasting is a privilege, not a right. It's so nice to get on a simple machine and just ride. no gears, no fancy stuff. just wheels, steel and one gear. you're directly connected to the machine and the road. you'll only go as fast as your legs will spin.

The ToC finished today. I though Disco did a fantastic job, and Congrats are in order for Levi. I think Levi was a good person to win the Tour of Cali, although i still don't think he has a shot for the GC in the TDF. That being said, Levi's team did a huge amount of work, and without them he would have been dead in the water. (especially after that silly little crash in stage 2 and the one today.) Speaking of which, it's time to talk about the real Disco MVP- Big George Hincapie.
Already and accomplished cyclist in his own right, George's best quality is his true sense of selflessness. I think the Disco and USPS boys have really shown us in the past few years that a good team structure will guarantee wins in cycling. Sure, you need a great team leader to ride you to victory, but without teammates like George, there would be far fewer disco wins.


George was involved in a crash early in today's stage and broke his arm/wrist. That didn't stop George from joining a chase group and re-joining the Peloton. Long story short- George rode over 100 mi with the broken bone. Without George pulling the chase group back to the peloton, Levi very well could have lost the Yellow Jersey. Hardcore points for Saint George.


That's fantastic. That's why I love George. It's why i begged the guys at the shop to give me the poster of him. I'm sure it'd be pretty easy to have a big ego when you're the US Pro champ and a TdF stage winner, but this guy is selfless and a great teammate in these situations.

What sucks is that the big guy is out of commission for 6-8 weeks. Another year of Dashed hopes for a Paris-roubaix win. I really though he could win this year. Let's see if he can rock out next year. And who knows, maybe he'll set himself up for a good stage win in the tour. He had also been spanking the TT's lately, which was always fun to watch.

George, while you're down and out, I'll race for you. I'll wear those ridiculous glasses and do my best out there (although as a cat 5 with a few lbs to lose, I don't know how much that really counts for).


If I had your address, I'd send you a Case of Brooklyn Lager- you deserve it. Thanks for showing everyone what it means to be a class act in cycling.

The Winter Cycling Ninja rides again! (sort of)

So the warm streak in new york has finally broken- the temps are finally in the 20's and 30's, and we're solidly in the winter.

We were supposed to have a short team ride yesterday morning. I woke up, saw that it was 24 degrees outside, and went ahead and dressed up. I took the cross bike out (it's maiden ride since i slapped the Campy components and carbon bars on it) and went to meet everyone at the boathouse. Well apparently I get hardcore points for being the only one who showed up! maybe it's because there was still snow on the ground...

I went ahead and got a lap in (about 6 mi) before saying "F That" and going home to ride the rollers.

rollers were fun- I didnt break my ass and I got the hang of doing it with no hands (for very brief amounts of time).

Today was two hours on the trainer.

boo. trainer time. so much trainer time.

being on the trainer for more than an hour and a half makes me suicidal. Thankfully, watching Kill Bill Vol 2 Dulled the pain a bit.

I think I'm going to start looking for a new saddle. A ong trainer season really puts your saddle to the test, and as much as I love my Fizik Arione (and as much as it matched my bike), I might need to look around, because I enjoy not being sterile.

I think I'll try out one of the New Selle Flites and the Fizik Gobi (I would try the Aliante, but that shit is wayyy too expensive)

I recently got my Fondriest Fitted by Mike Sherry at Performance Labs HC . It was a pretty Deluxe fitting, setting me back about $250. I feel much better on the bike. Mike took a ton of skeletal measurements and ended up raising my seatpost by almost 2 inches, and lowered my Stem height by about an inch. My hips are more open, and I feel different muscle groups in my legs being used. I'll be excited to get back out on the road for a real ride and see what the difference is. Overall, it was a great fitting experience. Mike was super knowledgable and did a great job. Highly reccomended!

Tomorrow's a rest day. Thank the frigging lord.

If this cold weather keeps going, I just might slap the knobbies back on my cross bike and go romping through central park on a snowy afternoon. Who's with me?!