Road Biking's Image Problem

 Over the last few weeks since the beginning of Lance Gate as some call it.  We have seen lots of mudslinging and he did and they said commentary. Books have and will be written as people try to convince themselves and  others that what they did and are doing is right.  And riders will hope that this great Performance Enhancing Drug scandal of 2012 will make the public image of road cycling better.

 Yet the problem of how Joe Public views road cycling is much greater then that. At least half of that is how road cycling is shown to North America by the media here. When it comes to endurance sport other then the Olympics only other time we see road cycling is the Tour. So all people see is a small number of high performance cyclist's doing something that seems so abnormal to them. You never see a 2 hour December NBC sports show covering a Grandfondo. So all these doping incidents further their view that road cycling/racing is just a gathering of drug taking freaks.


Now if you look at the Ironman which thanks to NBC has a whole different perception. Unlike the 80's you see less pro level racing and more everyman. Then they show all the regular people who are doing it... the Hoyts, Sarah Renertson, Rudy, Lisa Bentley racing the world's best with MS, Marc Herreman's, and the list is endless. And of course the Denizens of The Dark those who no matter what just won't quit to get to the pier by midnight. 

And despite Nina Kraft, Kelli Guest, and Mike Vine to name a few getting caught doping. People see that there is more to it the sport then the doping. It becomes little more then a speed bump in people's perception. Now imagine the change of perception if a 2 hour broadcast of a Grandfondo was like that. Not only pro's but you see guy's like Phil Chew doing it and other everyman. Show Chansen pulling his son around the course . Gaurantee you that public perception will change because they see that there is more then just the tour and the Olympics.  

Until we see a broadcasting shift in a different direction the perception of Joe Public will not improve.

Thanksgiving vulture of Hydro

Set out to the Hydro line to explore a bit. I do admit a bit of boredom was part of it as well as a desire to see if there was trail potential. I say this as I think that Kingston needs more trails. Just not in Collins Bay system as I think to many people are in there. And That leads to conflicts which isn't fun.

To bad this wasn't BC mountains where one could drink it.

                                 And mud season begins.

Should be interesting to see how much this rises in the next little while.

           Doesn't look it but it's now a swamp again further down.

            Hmm.. wonder what this connects to? End result nothing.

                       Someone abandoned their beehives.

       Found over grown Quad track. Which will become a trail.

Future part of the trail.

                   On the way out waved to the man in the tractor.

Got the cell call from home that dinner was nearly ready. Shortcut across the field.

        Turkey Vulture must have heard my fuel reserves fading.

Expansionism

On Saturday headed out to the Hydroline with the mission of looking into a new developmemt in the last 3 weeks. That being the sudden appearance of fencing on a ATV track. Which according to the sign has been done by the golf course.

    Yet according to this handy nifty electronic voodoo device shows that the golf course is at least 500m or more away. So what is going on?

                                 Looks like ATV track almost.

                     With blue trail markers nailed to the trees.

More fencing and it appears some have been poaching.

 I hope this isn't a case of the golf course expanding under the radar. As from a brief google there was not much found.  Part of me is suspect as it would be incredibly easy in this case to try to push the property line past where it actually is.


  Further down the line the Turkey Vultures where out. Appropriate considering my mood.

 The hydroline ATV track in fact does connect to Creekford as I suspected.

Challenge Accepted

First time in 5 years had to wait for a train at this spot.

Device giving my road speed. Is that a Challenge? Went back to do it again and goy it up to 39kmh. Do it again tomorrow.

Rain Ride

Camera was wet so hard to get better shots.

And thus it begins.

                                          Wet gloves rule.

                Oh, no flooding yet? Wait till tomorrow.

                         Cleanest the Planet X has been in months.

                        Hmm.. I think my saddle is to far back.

Superstar Components XCR ST Single Ring Chainguide

Earlier this year I picked up this guide for single chain ring set ups from Superstar Components out of the UK.  Seeing as I was looking for a solution to not needing more then one chainring.  And after looking at other options this seems to have fit the bill. The biggest challenge being if you went with a plate it only attaches to the BB. Meaning there was no ISCG tab style only the pull my BB option. 

 After a bit of modification as the plastic guide part wasn't meant for use with a bash guard. So the outer bit had to have some plastic removed. Once that was done it fit on perfectly.  As you can see in the pic.

 And after several months of use it has been going well. Except for one little niggle. That being that it is way to easy to have the guide spin around. And the little grub screw is way to small to get enough torque to keep in place.  I would have much preferred to use a plate mount in the back. But again Superstar does not offer the XCR in ISCG mount only BB. That would have been a much better option .

Axiom Helix Bottle Cage

What does one say about a bottle cage? It comes in various flavours depending upon how much money you decide you don't need. Carbon, titanium, aluminium, and steel. And even mixes of aloy's as they call it.  All really for the simple purpose of holding a water bottle in place and prevent it from bouncing down the road after one smacks a pothole.

 

So what can I say about this Axiom version that comes in some Magnesium Alloy and in this version black? Well of course we all know magnesium tends to spark when it hits things like rocks and pavement when it slides as well. And before you ask no I haven't tested that yet and don't plan to. But it does do it's job well of bottle retention.

 One added bonus with this specific cage as shown in the lower photo is it is perfect shape and size for holding an Ice Capp . Not significant but great near the end of a ride as one is nearing home. Not a big deal really but still nice feature that was unintended in it's design.