The new upgrade from 3 to 4 doesn't seem that odd to me, racing 1,2,3 and then the 4's on their own does. Most places it's 1-2 & 3-4, still is in CA at least. Though it would be nice, I dont think we'll see masters or women as separate cats in Prospect, the course is too small. So will this change to 1-2s, with 3's and 4's each having their own field? Tossing masters, women and Jrs in with each respective race?

Does anyone think the local upgrade people will be keeping track of everyone who needs an automatic 4-3 upgrade? I don't think so...

jfogden said:

The new upgrade from 3 to 4 doesn't seem that odd to me, racing 1,2,3 and then the 4's on their own does. Most places it's 1-2 & 3-4, still is in CA at least. Though it would be nice, I dont think we'll see masters or women as separate cats in Prospect, the course is too small. So will this change to 1-2s, with 3's and 4's each having their own field? Tossing masters, women and Jrs in with each respective race?

Where in California? Ive raced quite a bit in Southern, and have not seen this be the case.

perhaps USAC will mandate only the air-attack

On Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 10:51 AM, Jules <

Hah! I only take it to reduce inflammation though, never because of a perceived advantage for performance.
"The research looks specifically at prophylactic use of ibuprofen"
I try to stick to 10mg/kg of body weight every 6 hours as a max dose. obviously when I was in Cali, my achilles was a little tender and I popped 8x200mg pills not too tragic either.
In France, the combination of paracetamol (ibuprofen falls into that category) and codeine is sold over the counter and can be a nice little additive but falls under narcotic control laws in the US.

Also: “The idea is just entrenched in the athletic community that ibuprofen will help you to train better and harder”: this is interesting but never even occurred to me as it is counter-intuitive: you need inflammation for muscles to become stronger. There is plenty of scientific literature out there stating that COX-2 inhibition (what ibuprofen does mostly in its intended purpose along w/ COX-1 which causes the gastrointestinal side effects mentioned) reduces skeletal muscle growth.

Not entirely sure what the BBC is hoping to achieve with this program. Still, at least it confirms that it's not only US drivers that have a problem with cyclists. There's hate on both sides of the Atlantic. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2012/dec/03/bbc-cycling-documentary-irresponsible-mp

I'm not sure we're giving 2 Yaks the appropriate amount of grief for being the 2013 cover boy...

dude looks legit!

Looks like he's flying out of the computer screen and across my desk. I nearly ducked.

A high honor indeed ! I would be remiss if I did not thank my sponsors; CVS hair tonic, Clorox 3 and Body Bronze sunless tanning lotion.

Got this in my emailed newsfeed today

Will the Hotlist eventually become a column at CXmag?!

They need it.

Hey, what the hell is a shimano "Sprinter" shifter and a "Cobblestone" shifter? 3 ports, WTF.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/exclusive-video-shimano-dura-ace-di2-11-speed

As I understand it you can place a remote button on the drops so that you don't have to move your hand while sprinting and the "cobblestone" button would be a remote button on the top of the bars, again so you don't have to move your hands to shift while having your fillings bounce out of your teeth.

Craig Zolan said:

As I understand it you can place a remote button on the drops so that you don't have to move your hand while sprinting and the "cobblestone" button would be a remote button on the top of the bars, again so you don't have to move your hands to shift while having your fillings bounce out of your teeth.

Ohhhhh, that makes sense. Thx.

The "sprinter" buttons have a single direction switch.  The idea is to place one on the left bar a bit below the hoods and another on the right bar just below the hoods.  That way, you can shift up with one side and down with the other.  Or some wise guy can come by when you're not around and reprogram the thing so they both go the same direction.

Oh sweet mother of... this stuff is sweet.  Shifting feels like this...

Former teammate of mine, Kenny Labbe, unloads on Bobby Julich in the comments section of Velonews.com's recent article.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/10/analysis/julich-is-collateral-damage-in-longtime-armstrong-rivalry_262966/2

It's pretty good stuff...I'll paste his copy below.

Bobby has always been happy to play this role. The whiner who would have / could have. The guy has felt entitled since the very moment he won the Junior National Road Race for the 14-15 year olds on the Morgul Bismark course near Boulder on July 11th, 1987.

Like the next year at reading, when he joined teammate Jonas Carney and rival Brett Reagan and rode away from the field in the 1988 National Road Race, only to have his 7/11 teammate sprint away from him with 300 meters remaining after they dispatched the third wheel. I can still hear the whine in his yelling, "JOONNNAAASSSS." As if he was to be anointed that day. I actually was one of the ones who tried to console him at the finish, but quickly learned never to give two licks for the guy.

Fast forward to our first year in the senior ranks. At La Vuelta de Bisbee in AZ i...n April 1990. BJ had had some early success in Mexico or something, and after the prologue, I crossed paths with him at the Circle K. "Hey Bobby! Great job in the Mexicosomething ride (February hero). How you been?" and then he turns to his buddy and says, " See? You get a little famous, and everybody thinks you're their friend." My jaw dropped. In hindsight, I should have cold cocked the little brat. Instead, I ignored my team's strategy the long road stage next morning, and attacked at the start like a good old Illinois Junior Criterium always starts. Had everybody gutterballed and single file heading out of town. Decided that Mr Smart-alec was in for a hell of a ride, even if I had no chance of being there in the end.

1991 USCF Senior National Road Race. Lance's coronation at Jeremy Ranch. I being the mediocre rider I was, was once again in perfect position to hear this dooze.....Bobby's sorry ass dropped out, WHINING on the sidelines that his teammate (rest in peace) was pulling TOO hard, and it was hurting him. Classic Julich.

The next year, I was not in the car for this one. Only three people were. They were driving back from Track Nats in Twin Cities, I believe, and Bobby once again uncorked a memorable line. He told the driver something like it's too bad that this is all you'll ever be. A crit rider hunting for primes across the country, when I have SOOO much ahead of me. Sev pulled the car over and challenged Mr Bicep to a duel. Only to be broken up by the third in the car. Too bad. The World could have been spared this guy right then and there.

1997 Tour. Guy uses the join the cheap attack after the mountains in the small guy stages to move up to 17th overall. Lame.

1998 Tour. Festina. Shortened stages. Cancelled races. Mr Glenwood Springs gets a third overall. Now we really now the truth. But the kicker was this. Reading the autumn interview, and this CLOWN said too bad that this stage or that mountain were cancelled, 'cause I was totally planning on testing Pantani and Ulrich there. I was going to throw it down. Pause. Digest that. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You would have been POPPED Tommy D style.

And the Rider of the Year interview he complained about the "jobbers" rehabbing his Philly townhouse in the off season, and the inconvenience. The use of the term jobbers requires a silver spoon in your mouth to get the word out.

Forget the 1999 Prologue for Mr.#1. I remember smiling in the first full time trial, When he was chasing Lance splits, when he once again knew he was not good enough, and rode too fast down the wet hill, sliding out safely. Something poetic about that.

This article tries to get us like Bobby cause he did something Lance will never do, tell the truth. I know what a weasel he is. Not biting. Also not buying that 2004 was clean. Not at all. Calling BS on that one.

training camp for 2014: Columbia baby!

http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2012/12/riding-in-colombia-american.html

^ Rene gonna give us a tour?  That'd be hot. 

Gardiner is our next tour guide for 2015.  Right?

Molly Cameron on USAC's unwillingness to recognize Portland races... http://mollycameron.com/2012/12/31/open-letter-to-usac-on-the-topic-of-bicycle-racing/

Oh finally.  A little disappointed it's not even more vastly overpriced though.

http://www.rapha.cc/shop/team-sky

Nytimes alert: Armstrong said to weigh admission of doping. About time

Wow! If he does...I'm cutting my hair....