VisionQuest. More appropriate for a group of old hippy dudes who guide people through their first Peyote trip in the desert.

@Jeff - I see Cervelo have released the S5, so you can tear $hit up even faster now ..... until you break it.

Why is the new S5 $1500 cheaper then the old S3? Alas, they only replace my R5 with more R5's when they break. I clearly need the R5ca, at $9800 for frameset only, to improve my results.

dude - i know where you can get a vowel and a consonant for much cheaper

^ that is an all-time great

http://images.wikia.com/timanderic/images/9/99/Corbs.JPG

I dig this show. The Part 2 is hilarious—they get shot up by the Columbians.

The final report of the "Floyd Bennett Field Blue Ribbon Panel" was released recently. It includes a recommendation to promote bicycling to and around Floyd Bennett Field. Some relevant direct snippets:

• Enhancing the Jamaica Bay Greenway by improving connections in the Rockaways and creating bike trails in Floyd Bennett Field will better connect the site to other NPS and
City park sites and the City’s greenway network.
• Better marketing of existing services and programs, such as the bike rental at Aviator Sports and the use of a portion of the tarmac for bicycle races or other events in the future, would help attract new users.

Here's the link to the full report for anyone who wants to read more....http://www.rpa.org/floydbennett/

One item that bears watching is the recommendation that the park adopt a new partnership structure modeled on things like the Presidio Trust in San Francisco and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Those models are premised on the concept that the parks be self-sustaining through on-site revenue generating activities, taxes, etc...the idea being that this makes the parks less vulnerable to ebbs and flows in public funding for maintenance and upkeep. It also has the benefit of making them less of a drain on those thin budgets, as well.

A possible consequence, in our world, would be that race organizers could face stiffer fees to stage events (pretty obvious to assume these races would be considered a good source of revenue generation for the park). That would likely mean race entry fees would increase.

I, for one, wouldn't have a problem paying a few more bucks for a race, to support the overall upkeep of the park and making it a great amenity for other users....and maybe even a smooth tarmac! Curious to hear what others who have more experience/history racing at FBF think.....

Smoother tarmac - booo....

I'm inclined to booo, too. I get that, and dig the old school, HTFU aesthetic....but then I keep looking over at the hump on my right shoulder, courtesy of a FBF tarmac crater.....ouch....

2006 artictle on the late Jure Robic, which I referenced on todays CP ride

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/sports/playmagazine/05robicpm.html

Here is a quick read with Neil on diet - with a photo credit to a current Kissena rider:

http://bicycling.com/blogs/ramblingman/2011/06/30/too-much-fast-food-revisiting-healthy-eating/

Raced Masters/Womens this morning and I was the solitary Kissena rider: 7 seriously strong Brauer guys, v-strong Axis guys, 7 Wonderous Wheels. Sal from BVF warned me to stay up front for the first lap, which was a good call as numerous attacks had it strung out and splits forming. It settled down for a few laps until the first $50 prime. When Brauer set up their train after the hill (like we did in the 4's the other week) I new this was going to be slim pickings. A United rider attacked the train as it re-org'd at the columns and was pulled back. When I saw it slowing slightly at 350m to go I attacked thinking I'd put all-in—nab that prime and be content with that. But, I underestimated Brauers Sam Frias—him and a United guy managed to catch and roll me on the line. I was totally in the red and was looking around for my Kissena hill push crew and got spat! A lap later, after the tears had subsided, I caught up with Jim and Jeff K (who got 7th in Cat 5 btw) watching the race on the hill. Jim informed us of a Hudson rider who he saw jump into the 123's after lurking in the trees on the hill!? Yet another stellar example of NYC race-douchery. Looking forward to some hilly fun tomorrow at Pawling.

Btw. Totally unrelated: If someone were to, hypothetically, upgrade that guy Samuel Frias, I would not object. With at least 10 wins this year, he's sandbagging the b'jesus out of Cat 4.

It was actually a Foundation rider that hid in the woods at the top of the hill and jumped on the 1/2/3 field 2nd lap. He had a semi visible # on the wrong side. Foundation is having an extra douchey year.

My bad. That's like confusing the rebel alliance with the empire.

I am trying to get frias suspended

Can you get suspended for sandbagging?

Also, why would someone NOT want to upgrade? I mean, what's the point in picking on people you know you can beat? Is your self esteem so low and delusional that placing/winning cat 4 races regularly fulfills your life that much? Why not take the upgrade opportunity as a compliment to the fact that you're improving and getting better?

I know that means your "results" might take a hit, but crap, gain some perspective on your mediocrity. It justs make me shake my head and ask, why are they interested in this to begin with...

I think frias is cat 3

Don't be hatin' on my boy!

lol he tries to help me out a lot, last week he wanted to break with me, this past Thursday he gave me an insane leadout that I couldn't hang on to. He's a nice guy but I agree, it's time for him to upgrade.

How can a rider be listed with two different teams? (Team Tam and brauer mick mgt)?

https://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?compid=193519

The problem Frias has is that is he fast and loose with the rules. He did the Somerville races as a Cat 3 and Harlem as well - he should be suspended, fined and his subsequent results annulled - but I am harsh. Somebody else should complain to Shawn Farrell at USA Cycling.

Stéphane,

Posted By: StéphaneHow can a rider be listed with two different teams? (Team Tam and brauer mick mgt)?

That's not an issue. Teams can be put together for specific races or series. Not sure if he still does it, but there have been times where JP has helped put together Pro-1-2-3 "event" teams for certain races. I don't recall the specifics of that or in the rules, but I know it's possible.

Matt

I see him listed as a Cat 4 on USCA (unless there are two Frias's?). He doesn't ride 4 races as far as I know, he races masters and 3/4. But he does however enter Tuesday FLoyd as 3/4 when the entry rules dictate: "If your racing license says you are 39 years old or younger you must race the Category 1-2-3 race.". He is listed as 39 years old on USCA.

Another weird thing, too, is that Team TAM, if it's the same one I rode on years ago, really doesn't exist anymore. Hasn't for years. I doubt Tony And Mille (aka TAM - they used to run the Floyd races) have been renewing the team license.

one of many proposals....but it would be amazing to race track at a place like this...


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/nyregion/bikers-dream-of-turning-bronx-armory-into-a-velodrome.html?ref=nyregion

the 123 race:

http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/Cyclings/Brooklyn-Grand-Prix-7911/Pro-123/17987335_R4w4hT#1377867658_9d6cLzD

Pretty cool to click through. the 6 man break caught at the line.

Cheaper carbon fiber bicycles?

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110711/CARNEWS/110719991?utm_source=DailyDrive20110711&utm_medium=enewsletter&utm_term=article2&utm_content=20110711-New_techniques_cut_cost_of_carbon_fiber&utm_campaign=awdailydrive

There's a joke about carbon-fiber and bicycles. Q: What's a small carbon-fiber buyer in the bike industry? A: The bike industry.

I would think any advances in production of carbon-fiber components will take a while to reach the cycling industry. The reason is that I don't think most bike companies have the money to invest in new processes until they're proven. Unlike the auto industry, they just don't produce enough to pay for the latest advances in tooling and production until those advances are both proven and cheaper because they've been adapted elsewhere.

It is also unclear from this article if this new process would result in components that are lighter than aluminum or as strong as aluminum, or less expensive than aluminum. Aluminum frames were expensive to produce initially, but the bike industry has the process dialed.

Here is the report in it's entirety

http://www.rpa.org/pdf/FBF_Report_Final.pdf

Joe Parkin, awesome author of Dog in a Hat had a blog titled www.6yearsinaraincape.com

Granted it was infrequently updated, but that is the purview of the man who Bob Roll once described as the "wraith-thin Lone Biker of the Apocalypse"

Said website has now been overrun and Joe sadly, has been spit out the back of the world-wide-web peloton...

this kind of aggression will not stand

Although I think Parkin was a strong athlete and admirable for taking on the risks and pains of racing in Belgium --I found his book underwhelming and the work of a sore-loser. Sure, it was interesting to get a view inside that world, and it's nice that Parkin provided that for us. But he seemed merely to be grabbing a pen-wheel on the surging enthusiasm for Belgian cycling traditions and for alternative cycling literature. And though the quality of his story may be debatable, what really underwhelmed me was the climactic anti-climax --that is, his "Chasing a Ride" chapter wherein he recounts the story of his second to last European race wherein he paid-off his breakmates in order to get a chance at winning --only to be betrayed by the men he paid-off. While it's forgivable that he succumbed to the corruptions --his writing conveyed that he still feels that he was robbed of a top result and assumes the reader would feel for his loss and understand his decision to bribe the other riders. As a writer he seems rather sloppy. As a sportsman, he seems --well-- lackluster.

I wish him the best of luck, but I won't miss his blog.