Peacemaker of the Year

(left, Specialized Avatar takes the coveted Time-bikevoice 2007 Person of the Year.)

Time magazine awarded Russian President Vladimir Putin its Person of the Year. Why? In a nutshell, he is about making PEACE at home and worldwide.

A cycling personality that has made PEACE in my home is my Specialized Avatar mountainbike saddle. I entered warfare back in 2003 when I attempted the Shenandoah Mountian 100 using a different saddle. I abandoned the race for a few reasons, not the least of which was that I could no longer sit on the saddle due to. . . well, most everyone can speculate.

This year, I trained more specifically for the event. I also got fitted for the Specialized Avatar and could not believe the comfort. It gives the sensation of a light center of gravity, as if I am not touching the surface but with limited points. It's the "light ass" equivalent of "light hands."

It carried me through 13.5 hours of rocky technical Virginia trail with absolutely NO pain or aftereffects. I even had the additional stress of a riding much of the race with no air in my fork. I now use the same saddle for my cross bike, but I gotta say that I did not find it comfortable in a road bike position. Plus, an avid road racer would want something lighter I think.

I am also a huge fan of my BG Trail 110 mountain bike shoes, my women's specific road shoes, and helmet all manufactured by Specialized.

The BG Trail 110 mtb shoes are the only affordable high-top I could find. They are very light, perfect for mtb hike-a-bike and cyclo-cross running since they hold my ever-slipping ankle in place. I did have to adjust to the men's fit by putting an over-the-counter ortho ($7) inside. It would be great to see these in women's specific fits as long as the quality is not lost.

See 2006 Person of the Year.

Going Tandem

Sally and Mike are engaged!

Congratulations! They join the marriages made in Tripower. Paula-Jonathan, Lori-Dan, Dawn-Don also met through the team and married. Then there's Brenna-Mike H. who have been engaged a year.

Road Trip Tunes

Talk about a cool Christmas gift. It's the Road Trip Vols I and II CD mix with awesome background photos of the Superbowl Sunday '07 ride.

Thanks Wes!

Listen to "Intervention" by Arcade Fire and Scissor Sisters' version of "Comfortably Numb."

Bikes as Backdrop

This will likely go down as my favorite party of the season. The sales floor easily converted to a dance floor at the Norfolk Conte's Christmas party last night.

Megahn, Gavin, Josh, Paul, Carol, are. . . hmm, discussing components I guess.

Me, Carol and Sally. I need to call them to see if they pulled a quad muscle like I did.

That's Josh, my pick for best dancer of the night. So many layers to this guy!

Here is video of the best party on wheels, Norfolk's Alley Cat race this past Friday.

Also, Hosang and Kevin got an early white Christmas representing the 757 at Cross Nationals in Kansas City this weekend.

Cyclo is Dec 23

Too bad Cyclo (derived from "cycling" and "solo") can't be added to the December holiday lineup. December 23 seems somewhat open. It falls after Hanukkah and Solstice and prior to Christmas and Kwanzaa.

24-hour solo races would be run all over the world. The idea is to get realighned with the bike and aquainted anew with how far it can take you (physically and mentally) during a full cycle of the Sun.

The principles of self absortion, commitment to normalcy, and balancing love-hate would be instilled. It would be complete with an anthem, a prophet, John Stamsted of course, whose immortal words "That which does not kill me makes me STRANGER" would be etched in mountain faces and city overpasses the Earth over.

"24 Hour Solo" trailor

Third Eye

(right, my favorite wheel, Keith.)


It is amazing the energy generated from concentration. It has been windy the past few days. To deflect the wind, my head drops to a lower focal point on the rider in front of me. I grew a 3rd eye, mind’s eye if you will, into the core of Keith’s bike on the 70 miler several of us did Sunday.

I felt like much of the ride was a mind over matter for me. As long as I kept my eyes fastened on the core, I could transcend physical pain and keep my body following. Kinda like in mountain biking when they say you go where your eye goes.