So it was the 2nd BASP race on sunday. The course was really good. Lots of fast sections but technical in the corners too. There was also a runup with a lot of sand and a turn at the bottom that i really liked too. My biggest mistake was completely forgetting to check the lap count which was pretty silly. The race just seemed to go really quick because by the time I thought about it, as I saw the number the bell started ringing. I fel like if I’d checked earlier I could have hung onto the group of 4 that was 20seconds ahead of me. However, I managed a better result than at Hellyer park. 17/44 and 2:19 down vs. 21/43 and 3:16 down. So a nice improvement, almost a minute closer to the leader. Here are the photos:
The first indoor cyclocross race has been proposed for January 17th 2007, just 10 days before the World Championships in Hooglede-Gits, Belgium. The event will take place at the Nekkerhallen arena, whose usual purpose is horse shows, in Mechelen, Belgium. The idea was proposed by the top cycling agent Paul de Geyter (of Cielo sports management) with the original intention that there would be a showdown between Bart Wellens, Filip Meirhaghe, Sven Nys and Tom Boonen(??!). Sounds crazy to me especially since it is scheduled for January (hardly Boonen’s fitness peak) and it makes me wonder exactly what the course would entail since he wants Boonen involved.
However, the idea has received mixed reviews. So far Sven Nys, Niels Albert and Sven Vanthourenhout have confirmed but Hans Van Kasteren (manager of the Fidea cycling team) is not so happy about the timing of the event. Upset that the event will take place so close before the Worlds, he is not allowing any Fidea riders to take part due to fear it may be too risky at such a critical time.
So it looks like there won’t be a showdown quite like the one first imagined but it does sound interesting nonetheless. Although it leaves me wondering, if you take out the cold, rain, wind and snow from cyclocross what do you have left? Cyclocross in california I guess.
I somehow rarely seem to find any bike related items at the thrift store. I find a jersey every once in a while, i once found a pair of bib shorts, but that’s about it. today, however, i looked up and there it was staring me right in the face. the 1965 cyclocross worlds poster! it’s certainly not the rarest cycling print, i even have it as an avatar somewhere or other, but to find it in a thrift store was pretty suprising still. The best part is that not only is it brand new and still in the protective plastic, but it is framed and matted. i’m stoked.
so due to moving house and not having an internet connection for 2 months, it’s been a while since my last post. here’s a quick lowdown on what’s happened.
1. Eva and I moved to the Bay Area.
2. Eva got a job the day after we moved up here. TCB!
4. I found out that it’s possible to get groceries by bike, even when you live in the ‘burbs, but it’s easier with a crate than in a bag.
5. I earned my chip as a vegan baker by making croissantes. They were as amazing as they sound. (and look:)
6. Did my first cyclocross race of the season, the dfl#2 race. I was heckled by other competitors and i lost my chain for the first time since running a single ring with a jump stop. There was someone playing punk 45s on a portable turntable in amognst all the dirt. Brian Welton (visiting from philly) predicted the records were all 1st pressings of first releases. Dont give a shit!
i got an exciting package at work today. it consisted of a pair of century grey centaur hubs, 72 black dt revolution spokes, 72 black aluminum nipples (of which i will beusing 64) and 2 black velocity escapes. whenever i feel like staying late after work i will be the proud owner of a new tubular wheelset. now all i need to decide is whether to get challenge or vittoria tires.
i also got a pair of dimension cross cranks for evas bike so i'll be able to take back my suginos and get my commuter back up and running.
eva and i made dinner together tonight. it was barbeque tofu, kale, chard, biscuits and miso gravy. it was good. the kale and chard were growing in the garden 1/2 an hour before we ate them.
ryan was in town from portland for the weekend. we went on a ride today and it was fun, despite the flats. the first one ryan got on the climb up to golden hill park. as we were changing it i noticed the spare tube that had been sat in my bag for the last 6 months had suffered an abrasion from being there so long. it didn’t look like a hole so we risked it. of course it didn’t hold. at this point i had a patch kit but no more co2 or a presta adapter to use at a gas station. we walked over to thomas bikes, got his fixed and as i pumped up my tires a little to avoid any pinch flats on the way home i noticed my front tire was at 20psi. then ryan saw a goathead sticking out of it. awesome. at least i noticed it in the shop and not half way back though. so we were $20 down.
i’m not used to having other people work on my bike and i felt bad beedily watching the mechanic fix my flat. i pointed out that the tire wasn’t seated right when he started to inflate the tube. and then i asked for my old tube back too so i can patch it. i’m a horrible, picky customer. the rest of the ride was uneventful thankfully. we came home and ate cookies and talked about portland and san francisco.
ps please note that in the 24hrs previous to the getting the flats, i commented not once, but twice how i hadn’t had a flat for a year. take heed.
dunno if it's new or if i didn't notice before but gmap-pedometer now has an elevation graph. i guess this ride has about 1000ft of climbing:http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=169284
