So where are we at?

Road trip starts tomorrow morning.

Today it was warm enough I pulled the studs off the White blue with the superfluous checkerboard duck tape (now that JP is riding for Fuji and no longer will be on his Blues).

Hitched up the trailer. And rode in.

Holy crap how much easier did that thing roll w/o the heavy lugged studs!  Similar gear, similar effort but i had the trailer.

First ride since who knows when that I didn't have a back pack on or have my ears covered.

Was nice.

I saw this image today...  over the twitters and love it.

How in touch I will be this weekend will have lots of factors involved.  Time, liquid sandwich consumption, internet access...  all of the above.

Got a bit of hardware in the male from Diane last night.

Just a silver, but hey, still a silver.  Gotta be positive right?  One of these years I'll get a gold I hope.  So close this year though, still a slight bitter motivating aftertaste from that race.

Got a few JPTFU pages printed... going to remember to bring the 3M spray adhesive...  might be tagging a few things with them (maybe Synder's trailer for one).

Time to pack and #GETINTHETRUCK

See you there
G

Fuji just got a whole lot cooler.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Fuji-Signs-Jonathan-Page.html?soid=1101968582166&aid=VtXIRdya2Go

Fuji Scoops Up U.S. National CX Champion Jonathan Page

h

\h

Philadelphia, PA (January 30, 2013) - Fuji Bikes is proud to announce that it has reached a sponsorship agreement with U.S. National Cyclocross ChampionJonathan Page, who tallied his fourth national title in commanding fashion earlier this month in Wisconsin - notably crossing the tape without a bike sponsor.

"When we learned of the opportunity, we jumped on it," said Fuji Sponsorship Manager Milay Galvez. "We're thrilled and honored to have one the best cross racers in the world - one of the most accomplished American cross riders ever - riding Fuji. We can't wait to see what he'll do on our Altamira CX."

And the wait won't be long. Page will be riding Fuji's Altamira CX 1.0 in Sunday'sElite Men's World Championships race. With top-end, high-modulus D6 carbon and tubing technology pulled straight from Fuji's flagship, grand tour-winning road bike, the Altamira CX features a tapered head tube, FC-330 fork, BB86 bottom bracket, ETC chainstays, category-leading mud clearance, and a flattened top tube for easy shouldering.

"I am so excited to be starting a new partnership with Fuji. Together, we are shepherding in a new era - making cross and Fuji one!" said Page. 

The 37-year-old, based in Belgium with his wife and three children, spent the early part of his season recovering from an upper respiratory infection that affected his riding. But he experienced a resurgence in late December with a 12th place finish in Essen, Belgium and a 15th place finish at the World Cup in Namur, which earned him a spot on the U.S. World Championships team. All of which led to his exceptional day in Verona.

Page arrives in Louisville as the sole elite American to have previously earned a Worlds medal: silver at the 2007 World Championships in Hooglede-Gits, Belgium. He excels on heavy, demanding courses and has been training in his native New Hampshire in subzero weather. The 2013 U.S. National Champion is a favorite heading into Sunday, and he'll be riding Fuji.

Fuji will be hosting a signing with Page on Saturday at the Worlds Expo. More information on the signing and updates from Louisville will be posted to the Fuji Facebook page. Stay tuned. 

#JPTFU

Hashtag for a title? YES.  DEAL WITH IT.  At least this isn't Faceplant where I'd get a dozen crankyass monkeys tellin' me it be wrong.

Look for those signs if you are there or watching from TV.

No more HTFU... it is now JPTFU

Did you read about his 4 hr training rides in New Hampshire in the 20°F weather? Yeah.  JP synonym for Hard.  JPTFU

Since we're shutting crap in the trailer when down there the trailer hauling machine is getting special JP treatment.  not the full coverage, just enough to be an homage:

Prior to the tape application I did a very quick brake shoe change.  About a minute.  Still rolling along on that old rim with the studs on, yeah the broken flat spotted custom 3 spoke length 3 different spoke gauge rim, ran these pads down to the metal this morning.  The sand and salt and slush work as a nice abrasive compound and on the ice you kinda sort of have to be light with the front brake even running studs.  I've face planted enough.  So I popped some nice fresh salmon pads.  Jack always has em in stock, in every flavor. Why? BECAUSE THEY ARE THE BEST PAD COMPOUND EVER.  unless you like grinding your rim into nothingness.  I'd much rather replace pads frequently than rims.  Those Aztecs I took off were $2 clearance items from REI, I had them, used them. now they are done.  Salmon pads now.

Worlds. Going to be pretty damn awesome.

Can't wait.

Jerry's even throwing me a big f'n birthday party, a FOAM PARTY!  FOR ME.  That's what i'm going with anyway.

Capping off what looks to be an awesome weekend hanging out with friends with a big Birthday party, DJ, and EVERYTHING!

See ya there?
heddwch
G

one from the archives

thanks to russ

thirsty is right

If you're going to worlds...

DO NOT MISS THIS...

Louisville2013FOAMPARTY from Louisville 2013 Foam Party on Vimeo.

Seriously.

Don't
Miss
It

Book Excerpt...

Hand transcribed from Half-wheel Hell & other cycling stories by Maynard Hershon.

Buy your own damn copy but in the mean time since it came up elsewhere... here's the opening part of the story:

"Does the phrase "Half-wheeling" sound Familiar? No? Perhaps you haven't heard it, but I'll bet you've suffered from the practice.
Let's say you're riding with someone you've never ridden with before. You two are side-by-side on a sunny country road; no traffic disturbs the perfect tranquility.  You pedal along and chat, a perfect Sunday morning.
You realize your friend has slipped maybe a food-and-a-half in front of you; he's talking to you over his shoulder. You pick up your pace just slightly and pull even. He doesn't notice; the two of you never stop talking.
A minute later, it dawns on you that he's up there again half a wheel ahead.
You think, uh oh, I'm lagging here, and you accelerate half-a-mile-per-hour and come up alongside.  You ride next to each other a few yards; amazingly, magically, there he goes again, half a wheel ahead.
You can hardly tell how it happens. Are you slowing down? Is he picking up the pace momentarily?
Once more you mini-chase him down. As you do, you notice you're beginning to get irritated. As the miles pass by, again and again you find he has jumped half a wheel or half a bike length up the road.
You check your speedometer: You're not slowing down. He speeds up for an instant, long enough to gain half a wheel. He's traveling the same speed you are, only 18 inches ahead. You chase repeatedly it's maddening, doing this.
The ride loses its sun-drenched contentedness. It's you against him, an undeclared, perhaps one-sided, silent struggle. The two of you smile and talk about everything but the cold war that you sense is escalating. Maybe, you think to yourself, he doesn't realize he's doing it."

It goes on... fantastic read, elaborating, but that... that is half wheeling someone.  Now go get your own damn copy.

heddwch
G

2% and Magical Days

Not milk... come on...

You probably read the Interview with Page over on Velonews. Good read.  Sounds like Page.

Something resonated with Tilly too.  That magical day.

Which prompted someone to bring up the interview Herson did with Bob Roll and Alex Stieda... which of course I can't find digitally but thanks to Bobke Strut there is an excerpt and I have the book on my night stand.  I might take a break from reading the Obree Way and read that piece tonight.  If I remember.

Worlds.

I'm going to worlds with a huge pile of UBER passionate fans from across the nation. WORLDS!!!  MOTHER FUCKING CYCLOCROSS WORLDS!

Blueberry Chocolate Chip Muffins

We were riding in earlier this week.  MJ was headed to a chalk talk, i asked if there was food, he said "Yeah, coffee, blueberry muffins..."

Locked in the brain.  BOOM.  MUFFINS MUST HAVE MUFFINS

That was Wednesday morning.

problem:  No blueberries

solution: BUY BLUEBERRIES (frozen...  not fresh, they cook better honestly, esp in muffins).

Bought some last night.

So I woke up early...

perfect week timing

Well, it was nice as could be, warm and pleasant when I was in the car commuting and shuttling everyone.

Now I finally land a perfect week, and it ends off with a nice icy grip on my balls.  WOO COLD

Yeah yeah - in case you hadn't noticed it is cold.

my IDEA

Probably not unique but...

so you know how carbon wheels wear through (even the vaulted and holy firecrest will wear through)...  even using special carbon pads.

Heck I went to a brake pad mullet this year and had more wear and no improvement in stopping using the pads specifically for the rim.  Koolstop salmon for the win!

I mean everyone's used to using special pads.

So

we go back to the mid-90s and put a ceramic coating on the brake track.

that or fuck it we just put a ceramic coating on the disc rotors and we don't worry about the rims anymore.

Ceramic coating would add weight certainly but then they rim has to be so built up to account for wear, why not ceramic coating on the epoxy?  Yes.  Pro mechanics probably have to change brake pads after a long tour stage, maybe even start with specially thicker ceramic specific pads on a rim brake system... shit wheels are a coupe grand, what's the bit of extra money for a ceramic coating.

That or how about an aftermarket coating?

just thinking...

out loud

slack

Fortunately Plum is picking up slack for me lately. These last couple days at least.

Sunday we trucked up to Northfield NH.  A town so small weather.com doesn't know it exists.

A great gathering of pretty amazing people were on hand to celebrate with J Page.  I kind of thought the NECX family would have been sort of all over this, a chance to get together and celebrate the jersey, as it was there was enough food and beer, good thing most of the boston crowd didn't make the drive up, the NBX guys from Southern RI who brought a big pile of beer might not have had enough for everyone.

There - got my snark and uncool statement out of the way.  I'm sure i'll piss other people off, but hell I made it, ME! Ah well.  It was really pretty awesome to go up there.  Kind of auspicious start for us, but smoothed out and was no big deal,  the girls chilled on the way up and played while they were up there.

So some time last week.  Freddie B posted something on faceplace about a ride Alby King did last summer.  For some reason I missed hearing about it.  There's some contention that it wasn't the full or proper route.  Maybe but hell that's an impressive ride, no? "Proper" route or not that's not so shabby.

It got me thinking.

No Fuck to the NO.  I am not doing the North South trail.  No.

BUT

Counter-Clockwise Round Rhody Ride (damn i just named it - awesome)
My house, to PVD, up to the Mass border, west and south along the CT border (but not into Mass or CT) down to Watch Hill Cove.  Tag the beach (or stop for some donuts and coffee or something) then roll through Narragansett and north back to PVD and then home.

Skinny tires. CX bike but still slicks, not knobs.  Dirt roads? I sure fucking hope so.  How long?  160+ miles from the quick google mapping of it.  ALL FUCKING DAY BIKE RIDING.

Probably will need to wait until the day is a bit longer than it is now.  I probably will need to recruit a few people to join in the adventure.

No chance I'll get a long ride in this month.  This week is out of it, next week is a short week because a few douchebags are picking me up and we're driving to WORLDS!

At least I got to ride into work today, will get to ride in tomorrow.  single digits. can't wait.  seriously. kind of excited about it.

I was also thinking about riding to New London, to the Conn College Arbo and back.  That is only 140 miles or so. Maybe a pre-cursor to the C2R3...

Of course I have to hit Firefly's new shop to transition the best rides of 2012 into 2013...  and well it would be nice to visit Plymouth Rock again.

Gotta take up some slack to make it all happen... some how...

Still have to tape the bars, i have two wheels that need to be built too, Can't trust that busted one for much more than back and forth to work...
But for now it is working with the studded tires on the ice and snow. Ice and snow.  Perfect amount of snow this morning was fun crunching on through, piles of ice too, stopped to take a few pictures, froze my hand a bit and nearly ate shit when i stepped on the path. Amazing how much grip the tires have.

Amazing.

So nice not to be riding on the road this winter.

I'm okay with this winter like this.  Cold is cool with me...

see you out there in it...
heddwch
G

A Great Bearded One

Tip of the hat to Fatmarc (saw it on his blog first).

FBS spot final from Big Bear Media on Vimeo.

Video = awesomeness.

beating odds

Give this a read first:  http://www.teachingcancertocry.com/?p=1482
then come back and click more

getting there

Winter has set in and I've acclimated.  22°F no longer feels too bad.

Granted when you set out and get dressed and layer up for a 27°F and don't realize it has dropped 5°F after sunrise, well you just make do.

On the plus side I didn't sweat.

That was good.

The Obree Way

So it sounds like I might have to get a book...

But I'd rather not get it for a Kindle.  I really like the feel of a book.  Real dead trees.  Okay - i don't NEED it on dead trees but it would just be nice... and not an option.

But here...  give this synopsis a read.  I would quote each segment but yeah, food, tire width...  all that.

Crap I might just have to get a digital book!  (here are a few of the great bits from Kent's post)

"There are loads of post-ride commercial mixtures available, but none that I have seen can match the nutritional content of this meal. Remember the human body is designed to chew and digest REAL food and chewing and forming small balls of food is a very important part of the digestive process that commercial drinks disregard. Be cynical; think it through for yourself, there is no profit in telling you that sardines, toast and veggies is one of the best meals you can eat."

"Your training bike should have reliable cheaper wheels with full spoking normally 32 spokes. The choice of tyre is important since the last thing you want in the middle of a good effort is a puncture. Not only does it destroy a good effort but there is the problem of getting cold in the middle of nowhere sorting a puncture that could be avoided. I choose the widest possible tyre that will fit into my bike."

"One very important issue in any frame or bike that you buy is tyre clearance. A lot of frames leave little clearance for wider tyres and carbon frames are bad for this in general. It would be easy to believe that a narrower tyre will be faster than a wider one but this is most certainly not the case. The narrower a tyre is then the longer the footprint on the road and this causes more resistance than a shorter, wider footprint from a wider tyre. Not only this but a wider tyre will puncture less easily and give a smooth ride."

Even if the segments that Kent posted are the only good nuggets, well It is still probably worth buying and reading.

(i broke down and ordered it...  lets see if i can abscond the kids Kindle Fire long enough to read the book)

I RODE MY BIKE

And nearly ate shit once.

The slush held enough shape to wind up 3-4" tall, well affixed to the flat skim ice on the pavement below.  More dangerous that that shear glaze i took pictures of before.

I didn't crash, rode the path all the way in.

count the ways

the ToB is fleecing the cyclists...

shark jump NOW please...

granted i'm still hoping to join in the whole RdR if that happens this year

but no, Fondo or real race not driving up there

have fun at the Fondo, since that's really pretty much what every one of the 10 cat 5 races is like for all but the two or three dudes who break away and wind up as Cat 2 racers by the end of the season.

crazy stuff

have fun sheeple

exhale

as in finally...

I'm not complaining, that is a preemptive comment, I am not, you might read it as such but I'm not, and won't even dare complain.  But I may vent, I might explain, I might lay a few things out there.  My writing sucks and I'm really really shitty at communicating exactly what I'm trying to say.  Maybe only Solobreak gets it if he even fucking bother's to read this shit anymore.

oof... is there time for words?

Maybe, maybe not.

Finish the pot early maybe, maybe not.

Nationals happened.  I missed most of it, caught the results.  Congrats to Page and Jerry's timing and brilliant marketing strategy.  His 'team' has clout now.  Hopefully this vaults JP into a solid contract for the rest of this year and next year.

And a small bit of news, Louisville had better watch out.  Tall freak in the orange jumpsuit will be there, with a megaphone. No bike, no riding.  I haven't ridden since Tuesday.  Won't be riding tomorrow, or Wednesday...  maybe not even on Thursday.  I miss the bike riding but the time with the kids has been good...  the three of us have been having a good time. Busy as hell, and going non-stop.

So tired, even went to bed early last night.  Of course I woke up at 2am and sort of fitfully dozed the rest of the morning until the alarm went off.  One of those, 'FUCK I JUST FELT LIKE I WAS SLEEPING' moments when it went off.  Ugh.

Solo dad ends today.  Back to the more manageable tag teaming.

One more big challenge/test this afternoon.

Missing the bike.  esp now that the path is totally ice free and clear...  the morning commute in the car kind of sucks.  Definitely not terrible, easy drive, no slow traffic sort of stuff. It is what it is though.  It isn't a bike ride.

Time to work on that coffee pot.
heddwch
G

this...

truth but instead of the ADHD i call it over-thinking on hyperdrive...  a little less clinical