Hey guys,

I was just thinking about it. I'm gonna sit this one out. If only i owned a boat or kayak or something...!

Good luck to you guys.

Dw

Since the WSJ had such a lovely PJ O'Rourk article about bike lanes this Sunday, they're covering one of the more interesting stage races in the world. Tour de Pakistan. If people complain that racing in NYC is hard, at least we don't require an armed escort for the peloton.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703806304576236693573128336.html?mod=WSJ_hps_PhotosModule_1

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704355304576215494135981356.html?KEYWORDS=pakistan

A classic quote: "Everybody appreciates cycling in European countries. Here when we are practicing they are throwing the stones," said one Pakistani racer.

NYPD raising the bar on ridiculous behavior.

http://gothamist.com/2011/04/06/cop_nearly_doors_cyclist_then_chase.php

While I appreciate being able to see the power numbers of pros, I usually find these articles somewhat lacking in one way or another. In this case I would have liked to know what kind of numbers were being generated while riding in the slipstream of his teammates. Still, I guess it's interesting to read that a pro you've never heard of cranked out an average of 381 watts (I assume this is "normalized power" or the power generated with 0s removed for the times when he was not pedaling) for over 18 minutes.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/michael-morkovs-srm-data-from-tirreno-adriatico-ttt

Also that his cadence average was 106 (trackie!). Typically during TT efforts, I would guess most cadence averages are in the mid 85-95 range.

P.S. On the next group ride down 9W, if you insist on being like "MIke" and pulling 500 watts for 30 seconds, please wait until you hit the front before you ramp up to pro-tour numbers, okay?

Marc,
If you look at the published graphs, you can get a pretty good idea of where his power was when he was drafting. I also believe that the average power is the average, not normalized, not w/o zeros. I took a look at the graphs, which were produced by SRM's interpretative program, a program that doesn't figure in NP or P w/o Zeros. And the cadence strikes me as only a bit high--remember this is an 18 minute effort, not an hour, and the higher cadence could make changes in effort easier.

Still, its rare to get this kind of information. As has been posited elsewhere, there is little upside and lots of downside to pro riders publishing their numbers. First, there's the crowd that will say, "those high numbers" he must be doping. Second there's the "that's not so impressive," crowd.

Look how tiny that guy is! He's 6' and 150 lbs. That's Schleckian but not quite Rassmussenian.

Interesting read on ultrasonic bike part cleaners and environmental friendliness... kinda looks like my deep fryer.

http://findout.rei.com/blog_detail/?contentid=8318446252782753895&cm_mmc=Email_com_gm-_-Newsletter-_-042211-_-bt_ultrasonicBlog

I like this video of team KBS doing a paceline.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbqZCrqV_wE&feature=player_embedded#at=121

Notice how close the person swinging over in front gets to the guy behind him. The new front guy's rear wheel nearly swipes the front wheel of hte rider dropping back.

Below, you'll see the same from Garmin-Cervelo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYHFES3V6A0&NR=1

text book.

thanks.

WSJ continues its love of Evie Stevens:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703778104576287490010360346.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_Lifestyle_5

Despite being the world's worst climber I''m registered in the 4/5 category for this Saturday's High Point Hill Climb TT. It looks there's a good chance that I won't be able to make it on Saturday so I've sent a note to the promoter asking if I can transfer my registration (which I would gladly do for free to a fellow Kissena at no charge so as not to have it go to waste). If they do allow me to transfer I've also asked if they would allow me to transfer to someone competing in a different category. In case the answer is "yes" to one or both of the foregoing I wanted to see if anyone was interested in taking my slot.

A quick description of the course/race:
5 miles of climbing with shifting gradient -- hitting 22% for short stretches near the top.
I dont think there's much advantage to a TT bike on a course like this. (Don't remember seeing many last time I did this about 5 years ago.)
Roughly 1:45 drive from Brooklyn.
Finish is in a High Point State Park (NJ) which overlooks the Delaware Water gap where NY, PA and NJ meet.

Let me know if any of you are interested in this in case the promoter agrees to allow me to transfer my registration.

Thanks.

It's just a matter of time ....

I recall you mentioning this hillclimb... sounds fun, but too much going on this weekend. I hope someone rises to take the spot!

The promoter has kindly agreed to transfer my registration to someone else if any of you are interested. Need not be the same category. Please let me know by the end of the day of you want to take my slot -- for free. If not, it sounds like the promoter will be able to refund me.

The climb starts on a country highway. It is steady for the first segment, blips a bit steeper, then flattens by a pond. Shortly after the pond, you turn left into High Point State Park. Still flat, then you're put on a narrow road that twists and turns and has steep pitches. If I remember correctly, you have a short downhill before making a tight right and heading uphill to the finish. Definitely some big-ring sections. I think the top riders go around 20 minutes for the distance.

One of the best 60+ climbers in the Northeast, who climbs Whiteface in about 56' and Mount Washington in 1:13:55 (2010) clocked 24:34 last year. It gives you a point of reference.

http://www.skylandscycling.com/hphctt10/results.html

I did this race last year and it was like 100 degrees. The warmup on the trainer in a blacktop parking lot was worse than the race itself.

JP has it right. The first half of the race is a steady, hard climb. The second half is still generally climbing, but there are some little descents, some false flats, and some punchy hills. The finish is a 100 meter out-of-the-saddle sprint up a nice, steep kicker. It hurts.

Oh, and there's no water at the finish. Not sure what you can do about that, but in the heat, it was an issue.

We have a magazine celebrity among us!

http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/training-fitness/race-ready-six-hours-week

Interesting to see where some of the locals (foundation, AXA) go on the weekends.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/road/2011-athens-twighlight-criterium_170720

Posted By: Jeffrey WhiteWe have a magazine celebrity among us!

http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/training-fitness/race-ready-six-hours-week

Who is that? Patrick?

Yes, that photo in Bicycling magazine is from the cadence cup two years ago. Dan McMahon took the pic and he now works for Bicyling mag. Nice way to get Kissena in a magazine.

Patrick

gotta love the cycling drama:

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5699/Betsy-Andreu-speaks-about-Lance-Armstrongs-involvement-in-the-Floyd-Landis-investigation.aspx

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-initiates-legal-proceedings-against-floyd-landis

I'm really excited for the Floyd case. He's such a loose cannon these days that much hilarity can be expected.

This might've already been posted, so sorry for the redundancy. Just kinds funny.

http://ht.ly/4JBxO

Posted By: Jeff OwensThis might've already been posted, so sorry for the redundancy. Just kinds funny.

http://ht.ly/4JBxO

This is worth posting every day.

Lennard Zinn can be very funny and serious at the same time.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/commentary-its-time-to-take-on-the-uci_171267

ugh - zinn is so boring to read

he could said the same thing in 1/5 of the space

Nick Legan's awesome column in Velonews is making Leonard Zinn look even more like an irrelevant kook

I agree. Boring? Maybe that's what I meant by "serious"... but I find hilarious his comparing the UCI with dictators in Arab countries and us with "the masses in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria [...]. Only then can it [the UCI] be overthrown and replaced with an elected governing body whose directors can be replaced by vote of its membership when it overreaches, as I, for one, believe it already has."

haha

high five stéphan

so boring that i didn't get to that part

glad you summed it up for me!

OK, this isn't even remotely cycling-related, but this is just FREAKING INSANE:

http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/05/05/050511-news-seal-dog-1-5/

Titanium fangs will make their appearance in the peleton by 2012. You heard it here first.