Lance Effect

So Lance placed second at 70.3 Panama. The article on Slowtwitch on his bike.



http://www.slowtwitch.com/Tech/Armstrong_on_his_Tri_Bike_2568.html

Snow Day

Late afternoon fading light snow ride. Now sipping tea.

Monkey and The Tennis Ball

Yesterday Canada Post decided to deliver this all the way from Washington. Note no unusual messages and drawings based on the coporate shill Team Bad Idea.



Hmm... so far no disturbing content


Ah.. exellent.


What is this? Looks like a monkey humping a tennis ball while wearing a sausage suit.

Descending Skill

From 2009 but watch the skill.

Winter Bike Mechanics

As a bike mechanic it always amazes me how in winter how much time, energy, and effort triathlete's or cyclist's will put in on the turbo trainer. Or their strength, swim stroke, or running form. Yet they put in zilch during that same period for bike work or whatever else could be done. It's really such a waste.

Sure as a mechanic it's wonderful as I get to crank up the labour costs when I have to use blowtorches and hammers to pull your siezed into the frame BB. Especially since the majority barely do any bike mainteneance.

Winter is the perfect time for you to take your tri or road bike to the shop especially since it will only sit bolted to the turbo trainer all winter. Shops are slower during the winter so the emchanics have more time. Take it down to the shop and have the mechanics pull every bolt, clean, and regrease or loctite it. Replace any cables or housing that is cracked. And can't forget to pull, clean, and regrease your seatpost. The seatpost a common area for bonding to the frame. Now is also a good time to pull the old bar tape and install some fresh tape. By doing it now you get to start the year with a bike ready to go and you avoid the annual Spring panic when everyone races to the shop when the sun finally comes out of hibernation.

The other aspect of this time of year that is good especially with the bikes mounted to the trainers. Now is the perfect time to install the new parts like bars, brakes, derrailleurs, and such. Maybe it's just me but as a coach it makes more sense to use some of that time stuck to a trainer to see if one really like those new aero bars or saddle. Plus in winter it's much easier to take one's time and install parts properly. Less being in a hurry and not wanting to miss ride time because we all know how hard it is to get triathlete's to give up training time.

Best and Worst of 2011

24 hours till New Years begins so it's that time to review the year.

Worst Event:

Easy really... getting taken out by a car.

But can't of course ignore that I messed up my foot in a bail in the spring so wasn't able to run at all since the spring.

Best Events:

Dundass Monstercross because ride with friend's and soup post ride. Plus the once a year visit to Cafe Domestique.

Antirace because I got to ride some where new. As well as get entertained by the antics of those who inbibe.

Tour du Buttertar because it's always good to refresh one's memory of suffering.

Getting hit by the car in August. Because it shows that the crash skills I learned from years of hurling myself down frozen ski race courses are still there.

Best Parts:

DMR Cro-Mo bars... strong and tough. After installing and a few rides noticed my right hand and forearm no longer get aggravated. Exellent.

Rear wheel...built myself and bombproof.

Clothing:

Fox Launch Knee.. easy to put on and forget. Saved my knee at least twice.

Core Rat Ballistic Jacket.. bombproof, windproof, and keeps warm when wet.

LG Alpine Canada bibs shorts... has Alpine Canada on it.

2012?

Can't really say about the what for next year. But it appears that the Dark Side is calling as have been on the treadmill 3 times in the last week.

Fear Factor

So far 3 successful rides of this long ride riding up the incline with 11 fails.