Jeff Cup - Burrito - Flash & Boom

Suffered on climbs but worked on my cycling tan. I can't use excuses like flats, dropped chain or lost contacts - just didn't have it today.
Photo by Jason O. Watson

While OTB I was thinking post-ride dinner.


Exit 171B.


Joe enjoying it...Photo courtesy of Shawn B's Facebook page.

Back in C-peake while almost home - A Flash and a Boom! It was so bright that I thought someone shot a camera flash in my car. (Read the latest meteor story.)

(Comet Hale-Bopp shown and not what I saw)

I'm in need of some flat Sportsplex crits for some confidence boosting.

GamJams Review: Seatposts and Saddles

My perfect seatpost would be:
a. The adjust-ability, sturdiness and strength of a Thomson
b. The bling of a Bontrager XXX Lite
c. The lightness of an AX - Europa Carbon Seatpost (85g)
d. The setback of a Ritchey WCS

Since that seatpost doesn't exist, I'll make do with what I have. On my road bike I have a Specialized Pave Seatpost that came on my S-Works Cross frameset. Besides the funky (gimmicky) insert in the post, the seatpost compliments a carbon bike. Ride-wise feels no different than high end aluminum (Ritchey WCS or Thomson) or other carbon seatposts (Bonty XXX Lite) that I have. I don't recall if the adjustment was an issue when I set up over 2 years ago either (man I hope that post isn't stuck in the tube).
The cross bike, 29er and fixie have a Thomson. All are straight except the one on the cross with a setback. Thomsons are made to be on anything off-road. The tilt-adjustment is a no-brainer and superior than any other seatpost I've used. And it's strong without being an anchor. My 27.2/250 weighs in at an acceptable 220g (claimed). The only downside of the post is the minimal setback (offset). It is limited to 15mm compared to a Ritchey WCS with an offset of 25mm.
The other seatpost that I have is a Bontrager XXX Lite. It's basically a straight seatpost with up to 5mm offset. It's nice on the eyes and the one bolt adjustment works great. I have this on my TT bike because I needed a long (400mm) non-setback post on my compact-framed TT bike and it's what my LBS had at the time. The carbon does take the chatter out of my aluminum TT bike making that "Hour of Pain", well in my case, an Hour plus, a little more bearable.

Saddles are so personal. My road bikes and cross bike have Fizik Arione on them. It fits and doesn't cause numbness. It has long rails so you can push it forward for TTs or set it back for climbing. (Check out Floyd Landis' ToC setup).
I also used a Specialized Toupe on my old road bike and now resides on my fixie. After an initial break in period of my sitbones, it felt fine up to a ride of 1.5 hours. 2 hours in the saddle would be painful. It's light and looks good especially in white.
The TT rig has a cheapo Forte/Performance Brand T1 saddle. For $40 and a padded nose it works.

Bike Thieves Suck

The mainstream population put down their Big Mac and $9 frappy-latte coffee drink long enough to finally find out that LA is back in racing because they heard on E! or another entertainment site that his TT bike got stolen (and eventually recovered) at last week's ToC.

A bigger story and more egregious, that won't get close to the press coverage, is David Zabriskie's house break-in last week while he was also at the ToC.
The Salt Lake Tribune as well as a dozen other cycling sites and forums posted the news.

Here's the laundry list of what was taken:
Black 2008 Subaru Outback, Utah plate A189NC
Black 2006 Toyota Scion, Utah plate 094VWM
Giro D Italia race medal
Olympic Seiko watch
Beijing Olympic ring (silver) with initials "DZ" engraved ($4,000)
Olympic time trial bike, plus 12 other bikes (combined value of $100,000)
Cervelo (black/red) bike frame -- team issued ($5,000)
Tag Heuer watch ($6,000)
Bose speaker/receiver system ($15,000)
Sony 52" flat screen TV ($4,000)
Two MacBooks and one Mac desktop, plus hard drive ($8,000)
A pair of Space legs, a recovery compression system for legs ($5,000)
Seven Marvel sideshow statues ($11,000)

Yeah, bike thieves suck.

Speaking of comebacks - Tiger teed off at 2:10 in Match Play competition. Watch those TV ratings go up for the Golf Channel and CBS' weekend coverage (if he makes it to the weekend).

Dismal Dash Time Trial Registration Open

Enjoy a weekend of racing in Suffolk and kick off the first BAR races in the 2009 VA Cycling season. Race the Sleepy Hole Smackdown on Saturday and the Dismal Dash Time Trial on Sunday.

The Dismal Dash Time Trial registration is now open on Bikereg.


White Marsh Shopping Center
1226 White Marsh Road, Suffolk, VA 23434

General Info: ChampionChip timing provided by Kale Running. First rider starts at 9:01 AM with 1-minute intervals. Pls. be at the staging area 5 minutes prior to your start time. Start times will be written on the back of your number.

Entry fees include $2 USCF and $1 VCA fee. Unlicensed racers (CAT 5 or Women CAT 4 only) must purchase a one-day license for $10. Annual licenses are available for purchase online at USA Cycling.

No refunds, race runs rain or shine. Cat 5 Men are permitted to ride in Masters Time Trials. The TT categories are for prize distribution only. Results will be provided to VCA who will award BAR points. If you have questions regarding VCA BAR points visit their website at Virginia Cycling Association.

***FOR 2008 VCA BAR winners: Sign up for event under 2008 BAR Winners, entry fee is waived but $2 USCF and $1 VCA fee payment is required ($3). Fill out online registration and email promoter obrienkim@gmail.com with your DD TT race category.

Packet pick-up: Saturday, March 14, 2009 at Sleepy Hole Criterium, 4700 Sleepy Hole Road, Suffolk, VA between 11 AM and 2 PM. Packets can also be picked up at the race on Sunday between 8 AM and 11:30 AM.

All racers must present a valid USCF license (or purchase a one-day if your category qualifies) at time of packet pick-up and sign the USA Cycling release form. Racers under 18 years of age must have parent/guardian signature on release form. One-day license (CAT 5 men and CAT 4 women only) will be available for purchase at time of packet pick-up (CASH ONLY). All USCF rules for Time Trials apply. Portable toilets will be available onsite. No warming up on course, trainers recommend.

For Course Description: A flat, out and back course (u-turn around) with only one turn.

Questions: Email Kim at obrienkim@gmail.com

Thank you Sponsors

CITY OF SUFFOLK, ALL ABOUT BIKES, WHITE MARSH SHOPPING CENTER, KALE RUNNING

GamJams Review: Winter Tights

Winter Tight Review:
Adidas Adistar Windproof Tights

These are my favorite winter tights. The Adidas Adistar Winter tights are cut looser than most other tights. They are windproof in the right areas and are not bulky. The thin fleece fabric does not feel like they'd keep you warm but they do by keeping the chilly wind off your thighs, knees and shins. The 4-way chamois is nothing spectacular and suits my preference of less-bulky chamois pads. They did take a few rides to adjust to the pad and tend to bunch at times causing the "sit-up and pick" routine during a ride. When the temps get below freezing, I've worn knee warmers underneath just for added warmth. My current pair are on their 3rd winter. MSRP at the time was around $100. These tights paired up with the Adidas Adistar winter jacket and you're set for those blustery 30 degree base mile rides all winter long.

Castelli Cardio Bib Tights

I just recently picked these up off of Chainlove for cheap. Not having worn Castelli before, I didn't realize they were cut Euro size. The medium I ordered fit more like a small in other brands but I'm able to still squeeze my legs into them (top portion is another story - keep reading). The unique feature of these bibs are the bib design. The straps are not like traditional bib design. The front part of the bib is removed and the straps wrap on top of the shoulder and follow the outline of your lats. The marketing claim is that it opens up your torso for more movement. Since my tights ran small, the straps were almost impossible to wrap around my shoulders when I first put them on. After my first ride, the straps left large red marks on my shoulders (think bra straps red as my wife described it). Another set of washing and riding and they still we're too tight and uncomfortable. They also felt like they were restricting my breathing but that can be lack of fitness at this point of the year. After a few rides I realized I had to do a pre-ride stretch of the straps prior to putting them on. This alleviated alot of the tension and will continue to stretch them prior to each ride and after each washing. I also went to the fabric store and bought $.20 of elastic to modify the straps if I needed to.
The chamois is fantastic - not too thin and doesn't bunch. They claim the chamois keeps your temp (down there) at a 98 degree range. I wasn't about to plug any thermometers anywhere down there but they did feel cooler than other winter tights.

Champion System Fleece Bib Knickers

If your team kits come from Champion Systems, you know they are not the high end of kits. However, the bib knickers are fleece lined and the chamois pad is decent. The bib straps are very comfortable. I like these on those 50-60 degree days in the fall/winter/spring and mountain biking in the winter.







Performance Ultra Bib Knickers (Discontinued)
Performance house brand Ultra line of shorts are my favorite shorts to ride in. When they came out with the knickers a few years back, I picked them up on sale ($50). The knickers have a heavier lined material than their Ultra shorts but are not fleece lined. They still give you the compression and warmth when riding in cool conditions. These are my go to bottoms in the 60 degree days when not wearing the team kit.

GamJams Review: Trainers and Rollers - Trek branded Cyclops Fluid 2

A few years back, my wife gave me a trainer for Christmas. It was the Trek branded Cyclops Fluid2 trainer. She definitely did her research on this model before she bought it. She wanted one that was quiet (so I won't wake up the house at 6am or 10pm during the cold winter), smooth, low maintenance (just like me) and reliable. Needless to say, on initial use, those features were right on.
I banished my truck from the garage and parked it permanently in the driveway. I setup the garage as my indoor training room with a DVD player, TV, stereo, fan and trainer. As a newbie cyclist I put endless hours on it over the course of the winter and on wet spring days.
Besides using it for warmup on race days during the warm months, the trainer collected dust in the garage waiting for sub 32 degree winter days.
The following winter, the trainer developed the loudest screech and a metal-on-metal sound. The sound became so annoying that the sounds of Metallica or Coach Troy couldn't drown out the noise.
I took it back to the LBS and they got it back to Cyclops for a replacement under warranty. It was about a 10 day process - props to Cyclops.
They installed a new "head" on the trainer. The older version had a screw type tension and the new model has a lift-type mechanism that releases the tension with one movement. It's a better design and is quieter than the original unit before it started to act up.
It's been 2 years since it's been replaced and have no issues with it (besides lack of use - thank you mild 757 climate).

A few accessories are worth mentioning. My wife also got me the 'bike bra' so my salt won't corrode the bike. It works for what it's intended for but I usually just keep a towel draped on the bars and wipe down both bike and body. Spend your money on a new DVD like "Bending Crank Arms" and use some home towels.
The bike block/riser is worth the $20. I've used phone books and 2x4 blocks but the bike block gives me the secure feeling when I hammering out the last of the intervals.
The cycling pad - the expensive piece of rubber that you lay down the floor and put your trainer on it. It's handy if you have hardwood floors and reduces vibrations but there are cheaper alternatives. Yoga mats are 1/2 the cost and serve the same purpose. Make sure get your own and not your wife's yoga mat since she might discover salt stains and lube residue during her "hot yoga" class. If you have a garage setup, go to Sam's or Priceclub and buy a set up rubber floor mats. It'll cover an area where you can setup both your trainer and home shop. It only took me one time to drop a Thomson stem on the hard driveway to go out and invest $30 on those rubber mats in my wrenching area. Savings tip: Look for the ones that they use in "Children" rooms. They're cheaper than the industrial use mats and they come in colorful colors (but black on the other side).

If you're in the market for a trainer, I recommend the Cyclops Fluid2. It's quiet and smooth. Besides the issue I had on the first unit, I've had no problems with it since.

Gatewood Ridin'

Got a chance to ride with the All About Bikes Chesapeake shop crew on their weekly Sunday morning moutain bike ride. The destination this week was Gatewood in Newport News. I met the crew of Jeff, Larry, Alex, Dennis (Alex's dad), Todd and Keisha about 9am at the trailhead and headed out soon after.
Gatewood doesn't offer the technical sections or climbs of YRSP, New Quarter, Freedom or other Williamsburg trail but it's closer to home and it offers some nice flowing tight switchbacks, logs and some small climbs to improve my sucky off-road bike handling skills. The presence of roots will make sure you pick a good line. This trail begs to be ridden on a single speed, which Alex had.
After a bit of riding, the gang headed to the 'gravity cavity'. A 6' drop with a jump on the other end. After 'hitting it' once, I watched as the rest of the crew catch some air. After some tips from Jeff, I was able to get both 29'er wheels off the ground - a feat for this roadie. We then took a quick pace on the trails back to the cars.
If you get the chance and don't feel like driving the extra 20 minutes to the James City trails, give Gatewood a shot. It's next to the Mariner's Museum and by Christopher Newport University. I know that when I race Casey Crit this coming Spring, I'll have the Niner with me to hit Gatewood after the races.
Thanks to the AAB shop for showing me another off-road trail to ride.