Beercan memories.

I woke up Sunday with a strange taste in my mouth and the vague realization something wonderful had happened the day before...if only I could remember what it was. Gradually disjointed images and fuzzy recollections began to resurface...I had probably mistaken this

for a beer can, thus the strange taste in my mouth. Alas, it held no beer.
I had done a ride..yes! Kinda like old times at Annadel park. I brought my camera with me. After the ride started I entered a "low oxygen" zone and no longer had the strength to get my camera out of my pack. So,  here's a photo of the start when my brain still had some oxygen.

 These are guys who make bikes talking about tapered headtube swaging or something equally incomprehensible. I was drawn to those brake thingies because they are shiny.

 Yet somehow they were shinier than that one. Like all birdbrains I am attracted to shiny. I also liked the fat noodle. I hate flimsy noodles. And somebody said they stop well, which is good too I guess.
Now I kinda remember riding with lots of people, riding up for a really long time and down for a really short time. Somebody had a lot of flatz, especially in the fun parts. There were beautiful women there but I am too old to notice. The guy who makes the shiny partz was there and he gave me a beer that looked like this;

but yet not?
 Here's the guy who gave me the beer, and the guy who had the flatz.

Afterwards we drank more beer and somebody drove me home.
And, as we all know, a cold beer carried to the top of the mountain has more value than any other.

Who's your daddy?

It is interesting to see how racers are treated differently because they come from countries not considered trendy. I noticed when I watched Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Vincenzo Nibali had the lead. The commentators were going on and on about Nibali's countrymen in the crowd. But when Maxim Iglinski surged, they became almost silent. Of course Kasakh fans were not numerous in the crowd. I am reminded of Peter Sagan, who I saw as a rising star some time ago. He was slow to get recognition. How many Slovak fans are along the course when he races? There is something poignant about these racers, so far from home, family, friends, and all that is familiar. And yet they win.

Arenberg or not?

Don't get too rattled by the recent reports of Paris-Roubaix skipping the Arenberg forest this year. I hear it's a ritual designed to keep the pressure on the local govt. to keep up the roads. Here's Tommke when he was just a squirt.

Tyler nails it at the Vuelta!

Our Tyler Farrar wins today at the Vuelta a España! No leadout train needed. He delivered himself to the line and beat the Manxman Cavendish as well. It was a drag race- no head-butting or blocking- a fair fight. He's officially the US' best hope for a sprinter. He refused to take the bait to diss Cav in the postrace interview. A class act. Keep up the good work Tyler!

We miss you Sheldon Brown!

Sheldon Brown lives on in his good works.
Click here for the English-French cyclist's dictionary.
Thanks to Harris Cyclery for keepin' the faith.
Doug

State of Grace

Suffering is in the mind of the sufferer. To some, the act of breathing hard and sweating constitutes suffering. To me that state is a "state of grace". My body has undergone a transformation that the eternally sedentary can only imagine. I know from experience my aerobic capacity has doubled from my at rest state, the endorphins are coursing through my veins, and I experience a euphoria enhanced by the scenery and the sweet air I'm inhaling. Climbing allows this state at lower speeds, which permits me to relax mentally - as opposed to high efforts on the flats which lead to higher speeds.
Racing is a different matter. Digging ever deeper as we lead or chase the peloton, gritting our teeth and vowing to keep up with that wheel ahead- now that's suffering! When my heart is pounding so hard I'm afraid it might burst-that's when I tell myself-
today is a good day to die!

And by the way, that's the Tourmalet Eddie's climbing.

Giro à Go Go!

It doesn't get any better than this, folks! With the overall lead seesawing back and forth among the contenders, the race was decided in the last 5 or 6 km as the three Italian musketeers blasted to the finish. David Arroyo gritted his teeth and held on all the way to the top of the Mortirolo, and he descended like a madman in the rain to keep the virtual Maglia Rosa...only to be crushed in the final few KM by the trio of Basso, Scarponi, and Nibali.

Sean Kelly week

Check out the cool leather hairnets on LeMond and Bauer in this video. Trivia question- Kelly was the last pro to switch to clipless pedals...what was the reason given?

Cadel cries at Flèche Wallonne!

Which means he won- or lost, or came in third, or he had a flat. No such bad luck today as the world champion claws past Alberto Contador to victory on the Mur de Huy! Alberto just couldn't hold him off. Chris Horner was duking it out at the front as well and came in 7th, his second top 10 finish this week. For the TV dinner version watch Versus this Sunday. For those who prefer cycling fresh and piping hot- go to cyclingfans.com Sunday for Liège-Bastogne-Liège!

Contador Connects!

He takes today's ITT and the classement general at Vuelta A Castillo Y Leon! Could there be a Contador/Cancellara duel at the TDF? Has Fabian peaked too early in the season? Is the swiss phenom just unbeatable? What do you think?
Tomorrow- the 'Beer Race' in Holland; Amstel Gold! My pick- Filippo Pozzato!

Leukemans gives his all at Paris-Roubaix!!

Sunday's race was a disappointment for Belgian fans, with the Flamand star Boonen unable to shake up the race. A moment's inattention, and Fabian Cancellara soared away. Only one rider gave a serious attempt to chase- Bjorn Leukemans! Is he the Belgian who can get a win this spring? Watch his catch attempt here ; the best part of this year's race.......

Cancellara crushes the competition at Paris-Roubaix!

Impressive riding by Fabian! But a boring bike race! Never was the psychological component of bike racing so evident as Fabian rode away from a dispirited peloton to claim his second victory at Paris-Roubaix. Other than Boonen, who rode rashly again Sunday, no one bothered to take a hard pull. The chase group looked like amateurs as they let Cancellara pull away. And thus the Spring drought continues for Flanders' riders. Hope 'springs' again for this weekend's Amstel Gold "beer race", and there's always Fléche Wallone. Can Flanders produce a win this year??

Horner wins Tour of the Basque Country!

Congratulations Chris Horner! Podium time! Today's time trial was a real nail-biter. Only one second separated Horner and Alejandro Valverde at the start, and Chris gained one second by the 7KM mark, leaving zero time between them as they raced for the line. Horner finished this week's racing in fine style, beating Valverde in the last KM to take the overall. Thanks for a great show, Chris!

Horner hangs with the big boys!

More than a domestique! Chris Horner stays glued to Alejandro Valverde to finish 4th again today in the Tour of the Basque Country. He keeps his 2nd overall! Chris shows us he's podium material, at least for the classement general. Way to go Chris!

Museeuw musings. After Flanders hangover post.

I can't let this week pass without a comment on the Tour of Flanders yesterday. As I watched Cancellara and Boonen race together (at first) to the line, I was reminded of the advice Johan Museeuw gave to 'Tommke' Boonen last week. "Use your head- save some effort. Don't be rash." Yet Boonen insisted on taking hard pulls, even appearing to pull ahead of Cancellara on the lower part of the Kapelmuur, just before Fabian pulled away, not to be seen again 'till the podium. I can only wonder what could have happened if Boonen had heeded the advice of Johan. Tom has another chance Sunday at Paris-Roubaix. Will the excitement of youth again seduce the pride of Flanders? Or will he keep his head? We'll see.

Fabian Flies! Cancellara takes De Ronde!

Tom Boonen's hopes for a win today were smashed on the cobbles of the Kapelmuur! The Mur de Grammont claimed another victim as Cancellara floated away from Boonen, and the few yards widened to over a full minute as the world time trial champion roared into Ninova. Not so lucky was his teammate Matti Breschel, who was plagued with mechanicals. Boonen admitted in the postrace interview, " I was going well, but he was stronger on the Kapelmuur. I was chasing at 55KMPH, what else could I do?" The podium was all smiles, with Phillipe Gilbert happy to be there too. Tyler Farrar got the bunch sprint for 5th, just ahead of George Hincapie. Lance was looking solid all day and finished 27th. Sunday- Paris-Roubaix!!

Flanders-the epicenter of cycling passion!

Flanders is a small country, which has no spectacular alpine passes, no grand descents, yet captures the imagination of cycling fans worldwide! How do they do it? It's passion! I believe Flanders is the most bike-crazy place on Earth! Flandrians have created epic racing with a combination of bad roads and cobblestones to build a history and a community of cycling unrivaled in the world!
Never have I been welcomed with more 'chaleur' than in Flanders. The last thing a Flandrian said to me as I prepared to leave (in response to my statement; "everyone here is so friendly") was "we aim to please" ...just like that. If you want to experience bike racing at its best-and be welcomed with open arms- Go to Flanders!

Lance announces he will ride all 3 major tours!

He wants the "Triple Crown" of cycling!!! Radio shack was all 'abuzz today as The Man announces; "No more will they call me a one trick pony! No longer will I be just one of those 'sunshine boys of summer'- I'll ride the Giro, the TDF, and the Vuelta! Take that... you doubters!" The French press, led by the newspaper; "Poisson D'Avril" announces tough new doping tests. All English-speaking riders will need to give a pound of flesh, as well as the usual controls.

Garmin Grabs a three-peet at De Panne!

The sun was out for Garmin today as the drought continues for Belgian racers. Tyler Farrar won this morning's stage, David Millar takes the TT and the overall to make three wins! Next- De Ronde Sunday!!!

Tyler sticks it! He wins De Panne stage!

Our Tyler Farrar makes it look easy as he powers to a win in Belgium! He's been payin' his dues this spring and it paid off today!