Happy with the New Wheels

I broke the hub on my front wheel. Spinergy has a less than stellar reputation and I guess I've joined the unsatisfied ranks.

I don't really have a personal issue with Spinergy, since the wheels came used on a bike with an undetermined number of miles on it. For all I know the bike could have 10,000 miles of potholed asphalt behind it. And, Spinergy's tech support has been pretty cool - in spite of telling me that the 2001 model wheels I have are no longer under warranty. Go figure.

That doesn't change the fact that I didn't give serious consideration to any Spinergy wheels I came across.

So I've purchased (used on Craigs list) a set of Velocity Aerohead wheels with Ultegra hubs. I'm pleased - especially since they fit my budget of $150 for the set.

They are not as Aerodynamic as the Spinergy set, nor as light (but only by a few grams), but they seem to be much more solid and certainly give me a far greater sense of security at high speed.

I may post pictures of the wheels later, but for now, I figured I would just post Gianna's reaction to the new additions.

Dad, this is sooo cool! The day we've been waiting for.
We're going to get your new wheels.


Is that the guy's house? Maybe those are the wheels on the front porch.
They look like Velocity rims...



WOW. WOW. They really are beautiful...

MOM!!! Come here!! He's mounted the tires and the cassette.
SWEEEEET!!

Pickles, Pizza, and Pancakes

What do you eat for lunch after riding up some of the Bay Areas most demanding hills? You guessed it...
Left over pizza from last night.
Left over pancakes from the girls' breakfast.
And, a half dozen pickle spears from the jar I talked my wife into buying - saying that I love pickles and she never buys them, yet thereafter allowing them to sit in the fridge for 3 weeks forgetting about them, but arriving home a bit saline deficient, and seeing the pickles, deciding I should have a few. (Possibly the most grammatically incorrect sentence I've ever composed)

(I also ate a whole bunch of jelly beans, but they don't start with "P" so they only get this passing note.)

Here's the climb.

Check out what others have said of this hill.

http://www.inl.org/bicycle/deathride.html

and...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKBWc-CoVpQ

Vince and I threw this climb into the middle of our ride.

I think we were about 30 miles into the ride, going around that circle when Vince went bizerk and starts saying something about “we have to take this road!!” Turns out he knew what was coming. I remember at the bottom saying something like, "you could have warned me to shift gears," as I ground through the gears to something lower than were I was.

It was pretty unbelievable and pure will power at the top. I'm glad I didn't know what was coming.

Some sources say that near the top, the gradient is nearly 30%.

Um, that's steep.

My arms hurt at the top from the counter force I had to apply to the bike for .8 mile. The overall gradient as I figured it is around 17%. Some say 13% - but I'll stick with my figures. That's like climbing the "wall" at the top of Mt. Diablo 8 times, without getting to go back down in between.

Total ride was just over 65 miles.

Pickles, Pizza, and Pancakes. MMMMMMM!

What's for dinner? Pasta?

(The fonts on this posts have a mind of their own. Blogger needs a better user interface. If anybody who can do anything about this is reading - I would be glad to provide my short list of grievances. Life goes on...)

Sore Quads

Top of Cummings Skyway - Overlooking the Carquinez Strait.

I killed some time waiting for it to get at least a little light. By Highway Department standards it wasn't light enough to be out without a head light, but the first few miles were lined with street lights, so at 6:10 I headed out with just the red blinky.

My goal was Williams - approx. 120 miles away. I wanted to be close to there by 1:00 when Bec would hopefully slow enough on her way by, to let me throw the bike on the back of the Pilot. We would be on the way up to Shasta and a weekend with friends - and maybe my first time snowboarding. I was feeling great, and before 7:00 I was at the top of Cummings Skyway prepared to descend into Crockett and then across the bridge to Vallejo.

Carquinez Bridge - Looking west at 20 mph

I rode through Vallejo still feeling physically good. But, ever since my front flat a week ago, I've been a little paranoid about flatting. I've been carrying the patched tube as my spare - hoping I wouldn't need to use it before I got around to replacing it.

As I approached a set of railroad tracks just north of down town, I knew I was in trouble. I can bunny hop one set of tracks if I'm going fast enough - but two? I managed a double hop which kept the front tire intact, but the rear came down hard on one of the metal edges which make crossing in a car a dream, but on a bike a nightmare.
I immediately knew I had a problem but didn't stop to look for over half a mile. Finally, forcing myself to pull over, I surveyed the back tire and found what looked like a lock washer shape forming around the perimeter of my wheel. The tire itself had an offset of several millimeters and the offset was growing. I rode on hoping to think of some great solution. No solution came, but the inevitable did. With a snap the tube deflated and the tire bead released from the rim. I pulled into an abandoned Mervyns parking lot.

The tube suffered from double pinch flat (or snakebite) and the tire deformed after breaking several of the bias threads.

It was Friday, and my Project Manager, Rick was faithfully running the company, while his boss was off riding his bike around the countryside. I called Rick, and without much effort convinced him to drive to my house, remove the wheels from the Bridgestone, and deliver them to the far side of Vallejo.

An hour later, I was back on my way, an hour later than I wanted to be. I resigned to not making Williams, and communicated this to my wife. With the aid of Google Maps, she reworked my route over the phone, and set up a new rendezvous spot. It was a beautiful day for a ride, and I really was feeling great. No worries - Ride on.

Enjoying the sights along the Monticello climb toward Berreyessa.






My rest stop - just a couple miles before the Monticello Dam.
1 Snickers bar and a bottle of Coke

I came down out of the hills and rode toward Winters on Hwy 128, anticipating the connection with my team car in less than an hour. I called Bec again, and got word that It would be some time longer than anticipated. Bec reworked the route for me again, texted it to my phone - "89 TO 16 TO E4 TO INTERSTATE" - and I was off. More miles.

As I approached the left turn on 89 I was cognizant of the intense crosswind from my left. As I turned into the now headwind, I knew I was in for a rough ride. The winds were at least 20 mph sustained, and gusting to near 30 at times. I made just over 10 miles on a perfectly flat road in an hour. I was half way to the rendezvous, and all in. That was ok because Honda Pilots do better in the wind than cyclists, and the rest of my team was making good time.

The wind laying the grass over along Road 89.

I cleaned up at a small gas station at Road 89 and Hwy 16, ate lunch with the girls, and headed toward Shasta.

Nearing our destination

Mt. Shasta

Saturday morning dawned cloudy with a chance of rain / snow, depending on elevation. We hit the slopes just before noon after stopping at Snowman Hill to sled with Ella a few times. I'm new to snowboarding in spite of skiing on and off for over 15 years. I think I caught on pretty quick, and was having a blast after 2 runs.
My quads were disagreeable though. Skiing and snowboarding are both "bend at the knees" kinds of sports - and after 80 miles with a head wind grand finale my deep knee bends were strained at best. After 5 runs, I was toast. It got to the point where my greatest motivation not to fall was the pain involved with standing back up. No matter. I got the basics thanks to my great host and instructor Reese, and hope to make it out once more before the season is over.

Survived!

Paris - Roubaix 2010 is now owned by Cancellara

An exhausted Fabian Cancellara after winning Paris-Roubaix for the second time.

I know, Fabian Cancellara isn't one of the riders I've been following - but maybe he should be.

I first noticed him after he snatched the Tour of California Prologue Time Trial from the home town favorite Levi Leipheimer by a second and a half.

He just bagged his second Paris - Roubaix this year, riding away from 3 time winner Tom Boonen and the rest of the mob, and that, only a week after taking first at the Tour of Flanders. Late in the race, he singlehandedly bridged the gap between the peloton and a 3 man breakaway, then dropped the breakaway 1 rider at a time. The final rider seemed to wave him off as Fabian drifted away, as if to say "Just go - you're going to do it anyway." He time trialed the rest of the way over the cobblestones as the peloton seemed to just wish it were over.

Fabian had over 2 minutes to enjoy his victory before being joined by the balance of the riders.

Not sure why I liked this photo so much.
Could it be that it seems the pro's put their helmets on just like the rest of us - one strap at a time? Or, is it possible that Tom Boonen holds his white shades in his teeth just like he saw me do it? Possible.

Should Armstrong, Sastre, and the Schleck duo be taking notice?
Probably not. Cancellara is strong. Period. But the Tour de France, which is really all that Lance seems to care about this year is not just about raw power. I predict some early wins by Saxo Bank with Cancellara in the yellow jersey, however I suspect that those early points will be designed to offset a less than spectacular arrival in Paris. To win the TDF you have to still be turning the cranks well 3 weeks later on the Champs Elysees.

I think Lance will be still battling Carlo in the last stages, and that they will own all rights to the remaining raw power in the peloton.

I predict Lance wins by less than 30 seconds on the finish line in Paris.
We'll see.

Tour of Flanders and My Ride

Tour of Flanders 2010
Riders I'm following...

George Hincapie - 6th at Tour of Flanders




Fabian Cancellara - Winner of the Tour of Flanders



Lance Armstrong on the Cobblestones
He claims the 27th place was OK, and Flanders was just a workshop with cobblestones.

Levi Leipheimer was not riding today in Flanders, and I'm not sure that he's riding anywhere right now. I checked the Team Radio Shack Facebook page but didn't get any clues. No doubt they are strategically racing him in preparation to support Lance in the Tour de France. Let Lance get his 8th win, and then let him support Levi for 2011.

Andy and Frank Schleck will be riding tomorrow along with Jens Voigt and 6 other teammates in the Tour of the Basque Country or better known as the Vuelta al Pais Vasco - - Ok, yeah me either.

And me?
Well, since you asked, I rode yesterday in the Tour of the Diablo Valley. I was originally scheduled to ascend Le Monte Diablo with those who dared, but the cloudy skies and temperatures in the 30's above 3000' kept me closer to sea level, opting rather for the popular Danville Blvd. I came in first against some stiff competition among a group of female Team in Training members on a mid ride sprint from the stop light in San Ramone. A few minutes later I dusted a senior citizen - who rode back up beside me at the next stop light.

I finished strong with just under 60 miles, and feel very confident for my solo century I have coming up. If all goes as planned - which it basically never does - I will be riding up to Williams in the morning. From there my team car will convey me the rest of the way to Mt. Shasta, where we will visit some friends and tear up the slopes. (Not like you think. Generally parts of me get torn along with the slopes) But that is several potentially rainy days away, and a lot can change between now and then.
Pouring Rain = Nada.

Get Out and RIDE !

The days don't get much more beautiful than this.
I was supposed to ride with a young friend on the road bike. I wanted to introduce him to the Bay Area's jogging and riding trails, as he and his family are new to the area.

It wasn't to be, as he called me around 10:30 last night and canceled.

No worries.

Plan B. The guys were planning on riding mountain bikes in Briones at 8:30 am. I pulled the Lemond off the stand at a quarter to 11, locked in the GT, and had it ready to ride by 11 pm.

8 hours of sleep. Wow that feels good.

Rode on almost muddy trails for just under 3 hours - half of the time wearing a sleeveless shirt.
Spring is my friend.

Cows are not my friend.
I plastered Vince twice with cow pie rooster tails, managing to speckle myself in the process.
If you wait a few minutes it chips off pretty easy though.

Vince, Jeff (and new bike), Reza, Milt (and new bike)

Vince meeting the cute - uh - dog. We met a LOT of people enjoying the Awesome weather.

I finished out the ride on what I like to call the "Roller Coaster." It's actually the Lafayette Ridge Trail. There are sections of the trail that can take you from 40 mph to 4 mph in about 4 seconds. It's hard to get it in the right gear for that stuff.

I almost got lost when I left the guys and headed for the roller coaster and beyond. What I thought was a short cut to the Ridge Trail, was actually a short cut to the Crescent Trail, at what point I had to make a right / left decision. Astonishingly I made the right decision by going left.

I made it to my 11:00 appointment in Pleasant Hill at 11:16.
Thanks for the good ride guys.

And then I decided I didn't want to climb the mountain...

Morgan Territory

The Saturday ride was intended to be just another quick training ride fit in amongst my busier than usual spring schedule. 80 miles. From Martinez, to Morgan Territory, to Mt. Diablo, to Martinez. Approx. 6500' of climbing.

The frost on the roof tops affirmed my suspicion - It was cold when I left at 6:00 am

There are times when you just know that things aren't right, and probably aren't going to be getting so any time soon. I came to that at round 30 miles into my ride. The Morgan Territory climb was behind me as was the screaming descent toward Livermore. I turned right onto Manning road, with a new stretch of asphalt before me and a nagging pain in my quads. Why do I hurt already? Why am I going so slow? What did I do wrong?

I'm not bonking. Accelerade in the water bottles, and I'm putting them away with regularity. Lots of calories for breakfast, and plenty along the way. What is going on?

In retrospect I've pieced together the pizza, cake and ice cream for dinner, the extra leg workouts during the week, the 5.5 hours of sleep the night before with no more than 2 hours at a stretch, and basically figured out that I didn't set up too well for that ride.

But at 40 miles into my ride, I wasn't putting all of those things together - I just wanted to go faster and couldn't. As I rode into Danville on Camino Tassahara, the twin peaks of Diablo loomed above the canyons to the north east. I wondered if I should skip the mountain.

My first time cycling through this intersection.

The very act of THINKING that thought made me angry. Of course I would ride up the mountain. If it killed me - I would ride up that mountain. 5 miles later the decision came in the form of a stop sign. I turned right and the road turned up. I made sure I was well up the road before I pulled off to the side and pulled off my bandanna and stowed it with my windbreaker. No turning back. Another rider succumbed to the power of suggestion and pulled over to shed some layers. I hoped for company, but he was tuned in to his ipod, and indicated he would be riding slow. "Yeah me too" I thought, and left him behind.

The climb was cruel. I was amazingly slow. I hurt. I started the climb at 50 miles into the ride, but it felt like 100. I fought gallantly with a carnival of negativity for over 45 minutes as the valley slowly shrunk below. The short flats and descents on South Gate Rd. that typically offer a chance to augment the average speed - merely gave leave for a fleeting reprieve. At nearly 6 miles into the climb, the Ranger Station finally appeared around the top of the "S" curve.

I could end it here. I could ride over the hump, and let North Gate Rd. propel me toward home. I was tempted. It was getting cold. The wind coming off the top had begun to sting. Don't give up.

I filled a water bottle, hit the men's room, and then headed for the top. It got colder.

Juniper's sweeping right hand turn offered the next logical place to recognize the inevitable, escape the now nearly freezing temperatures and turn back.

Juniper disappeared around the corner below me. I was riding so slow. I couldn't catch anyone. I was getting passed. The wind was beginning to chill me, and I was still climbing. What was the descent going to feel like? 4 mph. I rarely see that on my computer, even on the steepest hills. this is not my day.

Devil's Elbow. I can turn around here. Ice starts showing up on the sides of the road.

The lower parking lot. I really don't have to climb the wall.

Half way up the wall. I think I'm going to throw up.

Three quarters of the way up the wall. I start praying for Divine help to keep me on my pedals.

The top. I wonder how in the world, a place with such diabolical names can be so incredibly cold. I think "There is a God, and He has quite a sense of humor."

I found a corner basically out of the wind and in the sun. I waited for the sunshine on my back to dry the sweat, and then pulled on the breaker, long gloves, and bandanna. The water fountain is frozen - I guess what's left will have to get me to the bottom. How many times have I ridden up this mountain, and I'm still surprised at how cold it can be.

Down, down, down. Not incredibly fast, because my wrist (still recovering from my New Year's day dive OTB) won't let me forget.

On my way down, I pass 2 unicyclists climbing up. How is this possible? How do they descend?
I decide not to think about it.

3000' makes a huge difference. Before I even reach the bottom I'm ready to shed the arm warmers, knee warmers and gloves.

The road levels out and my legs remind me that they've been had.

I take it easy. I get home later than expected. I take a hot shower.

I realize that for the first time - I actually didn't want to climb the mountain.

But I did.

I hope the pair on the unicycles didn't freeze.

Update on the pros

Contador pulls off a victory in Nice
Photos from CyclingNews.com

He rode a good race and smart in the last stage, not letting Valverde out of his sight.
Let's hope - for the sake of Armstrong and fans - that winning in France is out of Contador's system now.

Levi finished 23rd out of 97 finishers, but his Radio Shack team took third in the team rankings.

George Hincapie has been riding a few hundred miles to the south in Italy supporting BMC teammate Cadel Evans. He claims to have had a rough start to the Tirreno-Adriatico, and his overall standing certainly represents that of a supporting cast member, and not the prima donna. He is in typical fashion, riding for the team, and as such aided Cadel in his third place finish for today's stage 6.

Cadel Evans

And the Schleck brothers?
Same continent - different races - different countries.
Frank Schleck landed 16 overall in Paris-Nice.
And, Andy is hanging in there in Tirreno at 44th, and a 1:17 down. Cycling News had a great article with Andy discussing his return after the knee injury. Most impressive to me though was his comment near the end that he and Frank would never ride for different teams. There is something refreshing about seeing strong bonds within a family. Society in general is degrading the value of family at an alarming rate. Not sure what other "family values" they may have or lack, but as siblings - way to go guys.

The Best Laid Schemes...

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft a-gley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promised joy.

Robert Burns "To a Mouse"

That was my ride Thursday. Not that it was fraught with grief and pain, but it certainly didn't fall out as I had planned.

I was fitting in a ride between a 3/4 day at the office and an appointment to introduce Dave to Kipp, so that Kipp could work on Dave's bike. I wanted to summit Mt. Diablo, and needed 3 hours to do it. The 3/4 day turned into the whole shebang including finishing a half dug trench (some employees haven't heard the last of this one!) on a job in Walnut Creek, and before I knew it I was an hour late for my ride, sporting a new blister, and still trying to get home.

So I hit the road anyway and made for the mountain as planned knowing I might not get past 1000' if I even made it that far. On the way, a long stoplight convinced me to make the ever tempting right hand turn to keep my rhythm and sent me on a detour that just wouldn't quit. I corrected my course by turning left and then left again, but found the road didn't go through and pushed on through Pleasant Hill neighborhoods. I wandered several miles at nearly 20 miles an hour till I came across one of the many canal trails and succumbed to the temptation - no stoplights. This should have taken me all the way to the final stretch before the climb, but of course the trail was closed for repairs just as I was entering Walnut Creek. Back on the road - not even trying for the mountain now.

One of many redlights I chanced upon

I then wandered toward the very popular Danville Blvd. where one can find dozens of cyclists at all times of the day. On the way there I turned right on Arlene - the cut through to South Main St. - right? Nope. With great charisma I tore around this circle like I belonged there, got back on Lilac, and kept looking for the correct right turn. Danville Blvd. is a long stretch of road with wide shoulders and relatively affluent commuters. But it's flat. It climbs maybe 20 - 50 feet per mile as it stretches to the south. This was no good, as I was really supposed to be climbing, so guilt forced me left at Livorna Rd. I climbed Livorna, realized I was now going to be late, and enjoyed the descent back down.

I took the most direct route I could think of to get to Kipp's house, knowing it was not likely the most direct route. Even then a series of phone calls left me propped against my bike on the side of the road eying the clock. I soon found myself on South Main in the heart of Walnut Creek (the result of another elective detour as a result of another long light) monitoring a red light at the front of a line of cars. Motivated by passing shoppers and the relative low speed limit, I left the light as if entering the Champs elysees on a warm day in July. I sped ahead of the entire line of cars for several blocks, to the cheers and applause of the crowd. Stymied and awakened by another red light, I glanced over my shoulder to gloat in the face of the vanquished - and realized that they were, in anticlimactic fashion, all still sitting several blocks back behind that first car trying to turn left.

I was late to meet the guys, but that was no surprise. I had a young cyclist pick up my draft on the final stretch, which again elicited a short burst of adrenaline. He was pretty strong and I wasn't going to drop him. We chatted at a couple of stop lights, and may be able to connect again for a ride in the future.

The only thing that really went as planned, was that Dave got a new wheel and much needed tuneup on the bike. And, I got in a ride. Not the climbing I had intended but 30 plus miles nonetheless.

Vuelta Ciclista a la Regiona de Murcia - Final

HTC Colombia leads the peloton, and eventually the race with Frantisek Rabon winning overall.

Vuelta Ciclista a la Regiona de Murcia is now over, with names foreign to me listed in most of the top slots. Lance Armstrong finished comfortably in 7th place, about a minute and a half behind Rabon.

Armstrong (seen above in gray and red) seems dissatisfied with his performance at Vuelta, and has talked of adding some time among the peloton to his spring warmup to the Tour De France.
You can read about his plans here.

George Hincapie is currenlty in Italy riding the Tirreno-Adriatico - Stage 3 is Friday.




Levi Leipheimer rides stage 5 of Paris-Nice tomorrow with fellow American Chris Horner and 5 other Radio Shack team mates - not including Lance.


Though I'm not choosing to follow him closely, Alberto Contador is looking strong again this year.
Ok, so I am following him a little. I would really like to see a showdown between Contador and Armstrong at the Tour in July. I would really like to see it not be embarrassing. One more time Lance.