Great pictures! Winter fires are crazy. I remember our wet bunker gear would freeze solid and sometimes the trucks would actually get so encased in ice they'd be frozen in place. A couple of times in Toronto we'd work through the night only to be relieved by another truck & crew; we'd just take the new unfrozen truck home to our station and leave the relief crew with the "statue" truck... once we even came back the following evening after the relief crew had worked their shift and the fire was truly out. We then took our fire axes to our own truck to break it free; drove it home (gingerly, as it weighed 2x due to the casing of ice) and once in the station we set upon it with all manner of hot water hoses, axes, pikes etc breaking off giant shards of ice.

We must have looked like so many ants swarming a giant red carcass - great clouds of steam and rivers of water everywhere, with the ocasional groaning of the leaf springs as the excess weight came off the truck.

http://www.tfspics.com/Historic-Photos/Toronto-FD/12593879_HLbNJs#!i=945330029&k=xEKv8&lb=1&s=A

I cannot believe you cross guys haven't been talking about Nationals!

So many topics including the perennial favorite, "What the fuck are elite pros racing master's for? Sand-fucking baggers." "Myerson gets beat down in the 40-44 race, then comes back the next day and does okay (18th), but beats his master nemisises Webber (26) and Dwight (27) handily in the elite race." "Chabanov gets 40th, Bremmer who raced cat 3s at Super Cross gets 62nd, Favata DNFs"

And finally, my pick for the post race interview most likely to make me slit my wrists:

http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/247673-USA-Cyclocross-National-Championships-2012/video/562659-Jonathan-Page-Not-Good-Enough-At-Cyclocross-Nationals-2012

more on the lance sage:

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/athletes/lance-armstrong/Its-Not-About-the-Lab-Rats.html?page=all

"I cannot believe you cross guys haven't been talking about Nationals! "

Marc,
You know how I feel about Page. The guy knows how to sabotage himself like no other. The stars-and-stripes jersey means lots of cash in Belgium, his sponsor is based in Wisconsin, and not only was he on the fence about going to nationals in Wisconsin, but he decided to fly in Friday for the Sunday race.

I was also impressed by Johnson. If he can pull off 5th after hanging with the leaders all day while still battling the flu, he should have some great races back in Europe.

Looking at the high number of people who got lapped, the course must have been brutal.

I watched live stream and spent the hour exchanging sarcastic texts about the announcing with Owens. With some sane announcers, it would have been great coverage. After 4,000 boxing analogies, I should not have been surprised to hear him yell, "Tim Johnson can't hold the wheel. Oh the humanity!"

I don't know a lot of the back story behind Page and the other riders. I enjoy Jeremy Power's videos, and Tim Johnson seemed like a great guy at Glouster last year, staying around late to sign posters and chat with fans.

A quick contrast I noted. Page crossed the line 3rd and was visibly upset. Didn't slap hands or do a finish salute of any kind. Johnson finished 5th and high-fived every fan who'd let him. The other guys in the top 5 were all happy and fan friendly. Not Page.

In that regard, he was kind of lame. But I sympathize with the feeling - you just gave everything to win a race that means a lot to you and you feel totally dejected. So in a way, I appreciate that type of athletic commitment - physical mental and emotional. But yeah, he needs to get over it and be nice.

I hope we have a result at Worlds with that team.

@JP...yeah, self sabatoge...I'm going to steal that phrase and post it underneath the cycling dirt interview with Page. Remember the year he changed bike sponsors the night before a race and spent the evening building new rides for the next day?

Actually Tim Johnson said, in a pre-race interview, something to the effect of, "I have no idea why Jonathan is flying in Friday for a Sunday race." He seemed genuinely perplexed. But also, not said in a mean or snarky way. Almost one of concern...and those two have had some fierce battles on and off the course over the years.

Johnson's interviews this season have also been not filled with joy and happiness, but there's this undercurrent of "yeah, I'm kind of sucking it up this season, but I'll re-jigger some things, and be back with the good stuff next year." Instead of Page's truly depressing tone.

I love all the videos you can see of Page whining and yelling. The best was the time last year he came up and starting cursing at Johnson while he was doing a live post-race interview. Basically, he lost due to the teamwork of Johnson/Powers. Something about how they are bullshit racers and he was glad to be going back to Europe. Yeah, it's so much friendlier over there and he can get what, 20th consistently? Dork.

JP says, "The stars-and-stripes jersey means lots of cash in Belgium"

My google skills are lacking...but I bet someone cleverer than I can figure out how much a jersey is worth. I mean, there are probably a few intangible benefits (hotter babes in your fan club), but I'm guessing start/appearance fees would go up significantly for one.

I really want this bell:

http://teamjva.com/archives/2284

Page has certainly talked about it in the past. My own quick search found that Sven Nys could command up to 8,000 or maybe even 12,000 Euros back in 2009. Erwin Vervecken was complaining at the time that the other riders were getting less as a result of Nys getting so much. At the very least, it seems that start money covers housing and travel and race entry (not that race entry is more than 5 euro in Belgium). Being national champion gives the promoters something extra, so I expect that it could mean some money on top of it. How much depends on how good you are.

Page's supporters club is in Oudenaarde. Don't know how big it is, but even if he seems dorky, there are probably people who like him enough to be part of it.

Ah! Slow and steady....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaNBuqSuNqk

Do you like cyclocross? Do you like Lego? Then check this out:
http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_sportnieuws/MG_extra/MG_stopmotion/1.1191209

Someone has some serious time on their hands.

interesting on marathon training:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--x9IsA1yAk&lr=1

Sculpture made from bike chains (and other stuff)
http://www.bicycletimesmag.com/content/korean-artist-turns-bicycle-chains-human-forms

This is almost a year old, but pretty cool if you haven't seen it:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=w9fz5vODkAc

As was previously mentioned in another less hilarious thread, Dan Chabanov was encountered on our ride...wearing a Foundation kit. Which means one thing...an opening on Mengoni!

JP to Mengoni. C'mon, you know you want to race with your boyfriend Jared Bunde.

too late, Jean-Pierre!

Mr. I. checked out my Strava results and gave me the tap

Foundation couldn't pay me to wear that ugly ass kit. When chabanov hates on your bike tell him he looks like a fucking bloody turd in a prison jumpsuit.

hahahaha. Very true, it's one of the worst in NYC.

and unfortunately, the best kits in NYC (IMHO the older gulf racing style adler kits) are dead

http://nyvelocity.com/content/teams/2012/champion-system-pb-stans-notubes-team-born

Kissena has an official twitter handle now.

@kissenacycling

The orange & blue train is finally on the digital parcours

Re: the new Champion System team. I love it how the CRCA sub-teams who do very little to promote and grow the sport of bicycle racing in NYC get all the new sponsors and local coverage. When was the last time you saw Greg Olson at a PP alliance/community meeting? How many races do they promote? I mean I know that our race promotion count is due to Charlie's operations and he's kind of his own thing, but still...

grumble.

So Im an idiot and can't figure out the time conversion. When are CX worlds on Sunday and is anybody watching? Are they at like 5am?

Yes, women are at 11am which is 5am NY time. Men race at 3pm which is 9am NY time. Where are we watching?

Posted By: Jules RoazenKissena has an official twitter handle now.

@kissenacycling

The orange & blue train is finally on the digital parcours

Here is a quick rundown on how/what, who and why the club will be using @kissenacycling:

How: there are twitter apps for Iphone & android, but some people prefer tweetdeck. Google "best twitter tools" for more insight.
What: we'll use it to publish notable club events (races, podiums, epic moves, rides, progress of teammates (woj!) and alumni) and promote cycling in the Kissena area.
Who: right now it's me, this should grow quickly to include board designee's responsible for promoting our club online
Why: twitter allows the world to follow our activities and interact with us in a public forum. It's a chance to interact with other racers, alumni, sponsors and potential club members. we have an AWESOME team culture & spirit, and this is a great way to showcase that to the world.
Tone: we're trying to stay away from re-tweets and political topics for now. no hating.

In order to help with search, people should use the "#kissenacycling" on any post or DM

There are doubtless better Twitter Jedi's out there who can comment/mentor people in the art of the "140 character strike"

FINALLY!

I got a ticket for running a red light. Only took me 5 years. Ok, it's a summons. I actually stopped at the light on 2nd ave near St. Marks, then proceeded slowly b/c there was plenty of room and well, that's what I usually do. No buzzing pedestrians or making cars brake.

WOOP WOOP. A squad car I didn't see pulls me over.

Anyway, the cops were cool and we talked for a bit about the usual cycling behavior stuff and enforcement, the poorly engineered lanes, how it was better before they existed (they don't like writing these BS tickets either - apparently they're told to again), how the bike lanes are a mess. They said they ticket those people too. Really? There's 4 cars/trucks in the last few blocks parked in it... I encourage them to ticket cyclists that really cause damage like the ones riding on the sidewalk and going the wrong way.

They also said they're really cracking down on 1st and 2nd avenues b/c "people are getting killed by cyclists". Uh...ok. I know it's possible, but if it's actually happened I haven't heard anything, have you? (I also strolled through a light going up 1st in the bus lane this morning and a cop didn't care.)

So, what happens at a summons? I show up, plead my case (not that I really technically have one, I did go through the light) and get lectured by the judge? Pay a fine?

We actually shook hands and bid everyone good day. I guess I just got the impression that they were instructed to do this crap, and they knew I was being careful, not flying around dangerously, but they still had to do it. Now I'm gonna go listen to NWA.

Sounds like the second best outcome (best would have been no ticket and a bbright rotor crankset) - I'm sure they went back to the car saying the same thing you did "gee that guy seemed like a good dude"
were you in Kissena kit?

No. Civis. Rolled up blue jeans with light brown interior, black Sidi mtn shoes, blue-gray socks, gray jacket on top of rapha winter jersey with just a bit of pink sticking out at the collar, black toboggan, PI Gavia gloves, and red zebra print faux-wayfarers, all atop my moustache handlebarred black R600 pimp whip. Basically, they probably stopped me b/c I looked so douchey.

Too much info?