The Cycling Blog is on the move again and I ain't happy about missing the first turn of good weather in Ahia. Tomorrow I will give a subtle image to see if you can figure out where I am. Much more noteworthy is the news that someone in our midst is taking ownership of a brand new Storck bike. "Storck bike, what the heck is that?" you ask. do a google search on it. However, saying it is a high end bike is a gross under
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The Thursday New Albany ride officially starts at 6:00pm. I will not be able to make it but in my place, the star cub reporter, Recumbent Dude, will send me images and a ride report. Also note, many (well someone) have asked "Where is Flyin Tuna". Cindy tells me she will be at the ride to shmooze with everyone before the ride if not see many of you during the ride.
Larry P alerted me to this great deal o Craig's List. My guess is it is one of Jon Sada's bikes.
Up for sale is a 2010 Pinarello Dogma 53cm Naked Rosso Argento 537 with full Di2 and 2010 Zipp 303 tubulars. Here are the Specs: Frameset - 2010 Pinarello Dogma 53cm Naked Rosso Argento 537. This includes the frame, fork, headset, seatpost and seat collar. Shifters - Shimano Di2 Brakes - Shimano Dura Ace F + R Der. - Shimano Di2 (battery and charger included) Crankset - Shimano Dura Ace 172.5mm (this is BRAND NEW only 3 weeks) Cassette - Shimano Dura Ace 11-27 Handlebar - Easton EC90 Aero 42cm Stem - 3T ARX LTD carbon 120mm Saddle - Fizi:k Arione CX Carbon Braided Black Wheels - 2010 Zipp 303 tubulars w/skewers (new wide profile design) Tires - Zipp Tangente tubulars Pedals - not included Computer - not included Asking price: $9,999 for all of it or $4500 for the frameset (includes the frame, fork, headset, seatpost and seat collar). SERIOUS OFFERS FROM SERIOUS BUYERS ONLY LOWBALLERS will be automatically ignored. Paid almost $14k for it less than a year ago. Willing to part out, but frame must sell first. Pics coming soon...
Considering the weather, it was a decent turnout of around 25 shivering cyclists. Meanwhile, two Walker Dudes showed up and bravely exposed themselves to the elements while the rest of us sought shelter in or around the cars. Walker Dudes are good guys but some of them have a curious M.O. of drilling at the start, blowing up and leaving the route. Will this year be different? Todd Lee and Mitch were bundled up and refusing to ride. Can't blame them as I gave serious thought to leaving too but what else would I do that would provide the calorie burn my fattiness requires? Joining me were Steve O, Jeff S, Ryan R, 14-year-old phenom Nick, Amanda, Margarita Rick, Eve, John S, Recumbent Dude and others who I missed as they were hidden from view. Here, Nick and dad preparing for the ride. Nick won a race last Saturday and currently rides in the Cat 5/Junior division. I suspect his placement in Cat 5 will be short-lived. Mitch gave us a hilly route of 38 miles with a 34 mile option that we decided was the way to go with the strong northwest wind inhibiting our normal speedy pace. Not much of a warm-up as the Walker team went to the front and rode hard. Prior to reaching Winchester for the crossover, Steve O and Ryan had let the Walker guys go. I asked why and got the replies, "They don't know where the route is going" and "The peloton has finally matured". I thought that funny that we would not needlessly chase, knowing they were likely going to abandon the route. We crossed Winchester and continued on Waterloo and that long slog to Slough. Margarita Rick, riding an old relic, reached down to shift and simultaneously shot out the back of the group, nearly taking me with him. The pace was high, into the wind and at Slough I was cross-eyed from the effort. We turned left on Slough, wound our way through the dips and reached the foot of the real climb. My freakin chain dropped at that point, threw it into the large chainring then shifted to the compact and continued but a little behind. Steve led the charge up the hill. Meantime, one of the Walker guys was struggling and had moved to the left edge of the road. Kind of a dangerous spot heading toward the crest of the hill. I sneaked around Steve at the top and blew him a kiss as thanks for gifting me the win but I was utterly burned out as we coasted down the hill and once Slough sloped up again, I was in trouble and proceeded to be passed by many. The prolonged intensity was a shock to my system but thank goodness for the stop sign where I was able to rejoin. We headed out Winchester (Walker Dudes had turned off after Slough) and the pace slackened a bit so I could recover. We turned right on Kauffman, worked our way over to Lamb and then Rockmill. Everyone appeared to be riding effortlessly while I was all over the machine trying to hang on. It didn't help that Steve would make frequent references to how slow we were going, "Maybe Rick wiped out the B's and that's why they have not yet caught us." Steve works the psychological game as well as anyone and it further darkens my plight, which I suspect he knows. We turned left on Crumley, left on Mt Zion and then left again on Royalton....groan, there is a debilitating hill followed by a steep one. By this time, our group was at 7 with Steve, Ryan, Recumbent Dude, Jeff S, John and Nick. We crested the first climb, zoomed down the hill and started up the steepish portion. About 3/4 of the way up, Steve smoked by me. I got the sense he was holding back all the time but did not leave the group since probably no one could go with him. We regrouped on the down hill going toward Amanda Northern, turned right there, left on Marcy and right on Siterly. Here, I goaded Ryan into staying at the front, questioning his manhood should he fall back. He was rescued by Jeff who moved forward to pull us to the top. After coming through Lithopolis and cresting the hill, Steve took a sign sprint that is not really a sign sprint. He claims the sign that warns of the stop sign is the real finish line. The city sign of Canal is a secondary finish line and no one pursued Nick as he won that one. We finished with 34 miles, 2000' of climbing and an 18.8mph average that seemed a lot higher than that. After yesterday's debacle with the cycling clothing left in the dryer (I wash some pieces once a year whether they need it or not) I was determined not to make the same mistake this morning. I carried everything to the car the night before and so was good. Pretty good turnout at Cyclist Connection, maybe 30+??? Cold start at 36 degrees but light winds out of the south that were to build during the day so maybe we'd get a nice tailwind on the return. By the way, I have been negligent for not giving a shout out to Ric, who opens Cyclist Connection for us every Sunday morning despite that being an off day. Our destination was Lancaster and we shoved off. We headed out Waterloo, crossing Winchester and then hitting the long, slightly uphill slog. Little Diesel took a nice pull, then Green Caboose and soon she waved me through and ahaaaa!!! I was given the opportunity to show these folks what 10 days cycling in CA will do for you. I put in a supreme effort all the way to Slough...turned to look at the damage I had wrought...THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!.....but wait.....the group had actually grown and even some "C" riders had caught back on including Eve.... at least I am certain my tolerance to alcohol has improved from that CA trip if not my cycling prowess. We hit Sitterley, then Marcy over to Rock Mill, turning right, then left on Crumley and followed that all the way to #22, crossing over and eventually reaching Mill, crossing over #657 and turned onto the dreaded Stump Hollow. At last, here was an opportunity to show off them climbing legs. By this point, we were down to 8-9 consisting of Recumbent/Upright Dude, Jeff S, Franz, Kenda Janet, Amanda, Kent, Chris (riding a brand new Project One Trek that is solid black with electric shifters), Recumbent Dude's brother-in-law and one other guy. We hit the opening ramp....gawd that is steep. hit the steeper ramp.....been awhile since I unclipped......hit the steeper yet ramp and then finished on the steepest ramp which is 20%. I am proud to say I finished in the top 10, although someone denigrated that performance by making some comment about how much easier it is with a 28 in back! I'll have you know I could have easily climbed the hill in a 27 3/4 if I had too. We rolled into Lancaster and stopped at Four Reasons. I was thrilled that Little Diesel ordered not only a ham and egg sandwich but, get this, some kind of pumpkin crisp. Having him add an 1' or two to the back side and waist will only benefit those of us who draft so I say, "Bring it on big guy!" I left a little early with Canal Susan, Kenda J and Kenda Rick. We got through the monster climb on Stringtown Road and turned left on Rainbow. I was daydreaming when suddenly Jeff and Chris caught up and zoomed by. I struggled to retain a reasonable gap and was thankful the stop sign at #158 did what I was unable. Others caught up and then we crossed and headed up the hill. Jeff had gone into "Tuesday COP A Group Effort" and it took everything I had to hang on. We reached the top with just Jeff, Chris and me and this time, Jeff wasn't waitin for anyone and poured on the coals and streaked out Rainbow. We made the usual left on Coonpath and then the quick right and quick left onto Havensport. I had put in a short pull before Jeff sent me to the back of the line and took over again. We reached Pleasantville, then Lockville and finally back to Canal. 47 miles and 2800' of climbing. I've noticed each season is a very long season and the evidence to date suggests this one will be longer than most. Fore anyone? Look, I don't always tell the complete and total truth, which will come as a shock to some of you. However, I left the house with every intention of riding today but midway, I discovered I had left key clothing in the dryer at home. I swear this to be true. I could have turned around and been a no show but instead, I completed the drive and discovered a forelorn group in the parking lot, including these misfits. While the turnout lacked quantity, it made up for it in quality with Upright Dude (Nathan) showing off some more new gear. Also at the start were Kenda Janet, Little Diesel, Kevin K and Mark Vandororododododns...or something like that. Maybe 25-30 cars at the start. Anyway, Upright Due sent me an excellent ride report that is below. Well, I'd like to tell you that the day dawned bright and clear with the promise of tail winds all the way around, but that would just flat telling a lie. It sucked. It rained, then the wind blew, then it rained some more then the wind blew more, except colder. I rode with a small group from the parking lot today. Recumbent Dude (me), Kenda Janet (the dominant female – I'll explain later), Jeff the Little Diesel, Mark V and Kevin. We sat around waiting on the huge 9 o'clock group that we were sure that the blog would bring into the parking lot, but alas, it was slim pickings. Also in the parking lot was Grand Poobah, the Green Caboose, Franz (I hope I got that right) and possibly another. I mention them separately, because after brief consultation with one another, they intelligently left and went to breakfast. I don't think they rode because their cars weren't in the parking lot when I returned. I can't say I blame them if they didn't. Anyway, all assumed Mark would be there, ready to ride and stood around discussing the matter when at 8:55 he pulled into the parking lot, wearing jeans and a polo shirt along with that normal ornery grin he gets on his face when he's getting ready to say something that he thinks is going to be funny. Out of the car he leaps to immediately be met with a “Where are you cycling clothes?!” Now at this point he claimed, with a nearly straight face that he had forgotten a critical piece of clothing that would not allow him to ride, but a request to see if his bike was even in his trunk was met with frightened looks and stammered statements about it not mattering because he didn't have the right clothes... I'll let you, the intelligent reader decide whether you think his bike was in his car or not. I only report the facts, I don't want to stir the pot or anything. So, a couple pictures later, Mark is back in his car and headed at mind-numbing speed toward the exit, in a mad dash to short-cut the first Official roving ride of the year, and set the tone for his 2011 riding habits. Like I said, I am just reporting the facts. I don't want to editorialize or anything. Following Mark's swift departure, the discussions began about how far we were riding. Kenda Janet told us that we would be riding the short route today and the longer route tomorrow when it was warmer. As the dominant female in the group, I have no choice but to listen. I have a strict hierarchy about who I let tell me what to do and it always starts with the dominant female. I'm not sure why, life just seems easier that way. I always like it when Janet is the dominant female. Cindy always opts for the long route and I don't have her endurance. Having been told what to do, we dressed and departed the parking lot. Side note: I do love these roving rides. Mostly because they paint the directions on the road, and anyone who has ever ridden with me, knows that I completely suck at reading a map while riding a bike. So thanks to whomever painted those arrows today. I appreciated the fact that you painted multiple arrows when approaching a turn and then painted a confidence arrow following the turn. (Bob, I hope you followed suit for SPOT next week) Back to the report: Following our departure, things became a bit of a blur. The pace wasn't grueling. It was brisk, yet reasonable. It rained, it rained, it got warmer and nearly pleasant for about 20 minutes then it rained and the wind blew and then blew colder, making limbs that had long since warmed up, cold again somehow. The Little Diesel did quite a bit of pulling as usual. We talked about how much the weather looked like it might improve but amazingly never seemed to and then....it was over. We pulled into the parking lot after 35 miles, formed up into a brief post-ride pow-wow to re-live the ride, realized that everyone had the same thing to say; “It's cold and rainy and supposed to be better for the Canal Ride tomorrow morning at 9am” a lot of folks are planning on making up for the short ride today with a good ride tomorrow. A minute or so into the pow-wow it was almost as if a carton of dynamite exploded in the group. People dashed in every direction toward the warmth and dryness of their vehicles, to make quick exits that nearly, but not quite, mimicked the exit by Mark earlier that morning. -----END REPORT--------- The infamous stop sign jumper is in Florida on a family vacation, around the Orlando area. If you remember, Mark's van broke down last year and he had to buy a new one while on vacation (ouch) but no such drama is unfolding down there yet. On Tuesday, he rode 75 miles on a bike path and passed 7 snakes. He came up so rapidly on one large one that it coiled and showed it's fangs but missed Mark while attempting a strike. The humble Mark told me if that had been me, riding at my speed, I would have been bitten and eaten. Mark also said he wrestled an alligator or I thought that's what he said. Dangerous cycling down there. Mark got in a 50 mile ride and is going to get out tomorrow too. Sounds like mostly he is enduring family/relative time. |
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