Legend

I kinda have a thing for maps. They seem to represent a reality better than the reality itself, or whatever. . . . I have spent zero time thinking about it and lots of time studying trail and road maps where I ride and that's what I like.

Robert was out there at Freedom Park last weekend GPS’n the trail. There in the black is the mile or so addition to this very quiet James City County mtb trail. Sally, Mike and I rode the trails again this weekend and I thought often about where on the GPS image we were and how those satellites were now bouncing off us. Total ride loop mileage with the addition is 6.1 miles. We did 4 loops both last week and today.

(top, The GPS image of Freedom Park's trails shows the latest addition inner loop in black. Image provided by Robert Sawyer.)


(right, I am posing with an atlas and another of my favorites, Tupper's Hop Pocket Ale. Sally took this photo in Harrisonburg last year after she began to notice how much time I was spending with the map!)

The "I" in "Inner City"

(left, Night conceals the revolving supply of broken glass on Berkley Bridge in downtown Norfolk. Photo by Bill Gilmer.)

Beautiful day Monday. It was in the 70’s, though stubborn 20 mph winds reminded us that January stood closely, just holding out for the day, holding out for the holiday. Holding out for the most reluctant of federal holidays, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Sally, Susan, Carol, Sharon and I set off from Conte’s Norfolk at 3pm, heading to Ipswich trails. Berkley Bridge to Indian River, Sparrow to College Park. We shared pulls and said how nice it would be to ride Ipswich trails in daytime rather than at night as our work schedules usually dictate.

Ipswich at night is narrow single track, artificial light. Cateye, NiteRider, never seeing past rooty trail, lots of dips. It’s a meditation of Sigma light in quick turns, watching the line of blinky in front, calling out holes in immediate view. The bigger picture is perceived only when blinkies speed into the distance, into an open wooded expanse I know is there but can’t see for sh--.

Ipswich exposed to holiday sunlight showed me ground, the ground around that, and the ground around that. I saw all the corollaries from our regular loops, some new, others well worn. A car dealership on Military Highway was blight through bare January trees, and kids called out from the adjoining residential yards and apartments.

I could not quite decide if the businesses and yards encroached on the woods or the woods encroached on them. Unlike deep forests, Ipswich does not have that holy feeling. Its veneer reminded me more of wearing the same nice clothes for a second day in a row.

Rusted car parts lay in the bottom of most of the waterways. We passed tossed bottled waters, the occasional beer can, paper trash, all interrupting hope that retired leaves could just rest and be a forest carpet. There were even a couple of sections where it looked as if someone had emptied entire garbage cans in the middle of the woods. It’s not even the trash, really, it’s what the trash says. We don’t care about you, and worse yet, we don’t think you care about us. Gilmer called. Naturally there was cell reception in this not-so-remote place:

Where are y’all, Gilmer asked. He had worked until 3:30 and rode to meet us.

We just did low-high, I said.

I just crossed the bridge where I crashed.

We can meet you at the causeway.

Are you going new way or old way, he asked.

New way, go backwards, I said.

I commented to Sally that only a regular on our night rides would understand the conversation Gilmer and I just had. I said in almost the same breath that I know why the Peninsula mountain bikers call Ipswich “inner city mountain biking.” But wait, am I the inner city since I am so familiar with this place? With the twists, the perfect lines, the personality of each bridge? With the endo ruts, the places to get vined, the reflectors Wes placed on the trees? I don't ride in it. I am it.

We passed the BMX’ers flaunting cigarettes and doing impressive jumps, the dog walkers, that one strange dude, the paint gun army in camouflage. They held fire as we sped past in a practiced, talkative paceline. All out there enjoying a Tidewater winter day. We all need to join together and clean up our inner city soon.

Pace or Race?

(left, BJ Samuel wins the Peter Teeuwen Achievement in Cycling award for the second year in a row. Photo by Bob Samuel.)

A newly coined term around here is “BJ Pace” which has become synonymous with an LSD winter ride. I see tremendous humor in BJ being associated with “steady” or “slow” or whatever you think the "S" in LSD represents, as if she is this even-keeled, monotonous rider who does not jump, take a flyer, etc. while in winter training. Com’on we are talking about the same person, aren’t we? She is the first to go and a darn hard wheel to hold!

Local cyclists have remembered Teeuwen's life on the annual January memorial ride for 15 years. He brought road bike racing to Hampton Roads from the Netherlands in the 1960's. He raced, trained cyclists and promoted over 300 races through the early 1990's. Just a few reasons for BJ's two Teeuwen awards:

2006 USA Nationals Time Trial Bronze Women 55-59
2006 USA Nationals Criterium Silver Women 55-59
2006 Virginia Best All Around Champion Women Cat 1-3
2006 Virginia Omnium Champion Women 1-3
2005 Virginia Best All Around Champion Women Cat 4

The Du Side

(left, Locals Rob Dinterman and Diane Haupt have du-talents. Photos source: triduo.com)

I have been preaching Worlds Duathlon to everyone around here who can put in a solid bike and run times. The 2007 Richmond, VA venue means a rare opportunity to race in USA for a Worlds event.

The event in Richmond is Worlds Long Course Duathlon happening Oct 21. Note that the Richmond website says Worlds bike leg is 80k but USAT says the bike leg is 70k. Long Distance=15k-70 (80)k-7.5k. To qualify, you need to place in one of the qualifying events. The closest qualifier is in Richmond on April 7. There is another qualifier in Cambridge, MD on July 8.

This is not to be confused with the Worlds Short Course Duathlon happening May 20 in Gyor, Hungary. The Virginia Duathlon in Va Beach April 1 is a qualifier for that one. Short Distance at Worlds=10k-40k-5k. However, VADu is 5k-32k-5k.

Amateur age groups are included in all these events. There are some real contenders for those slots right here in town.

Person of the Year

(right, Bill pictured with teammate John before a ride and with Lisa as they sort through race results at Conte's Cycling Classic. Top photo by BJ Samuel, bottom photo by Bob Devich.)

Time recently declared "You" (that's Us) Person of the Year since "You control the information age." I guess that means I can declare Bill Conoscenti the bikevoice person of the year. "Wild Bill" wins because of his year-in and year-out dedication to racing, race promotion, training and mentoring.

He has been racing since 1976. He raced road, track and tris in northern and southern CA in 70's and 80's. He moved to Virginia in the early 90's where he joined Tripower Cycling Club. Wild Bill serves as club vice president, mentors juniors by holding weekly training rides for them, serves as a USCF official, and races cat 3 and master's road events. He also leads the region's longest standing group ride every Saturday in Virginia Beach. (Actually, leading that ride alone would be enough for him to get this award.)

He has served on the race committee that has promoted over 40 cycling events in the past 12 years, including 3 this year. He was director of the first Smithfield Time Trial in 06 and is the creator of the deathly anarobic 2.8-mile Pendleton Prologue which will return to Virginia Beach in 07. His leadership has helped lead the club to 3 VA State Team Best-All Around awards (04-06) and to USA Cycling's Club of the Year award in 2005. He's even been in the paper.

Wild Bill retired from the US Navy and now works as a contractor. He has a Masters in Computers in Education. He is married to Sheri, and they have two children and a grandchild.

From C-Ville to Belgium

(left, Deidre on elite women's nationals podium. Photo by K-Dogg.)

Charlottesville, VA resident Deidre Winfield is heading to Belgium for the world cyclocross championships. She earned a place on the U.S. world championship team and will race January 28.

Here is an article about the top women at Nationals last week. Her 4th place finish earned her the place on the world team. Katie Compton won the race.

I tried to piece together some cool info about Deidre. First thing you have to see is this video of her winning a Pennsylvania race. Watch it till the end and you will see the congratulations hug from her 2-year-old daughter.

Next thing is some history. This article was published in UVA's staff magazine in 2003. I am pretty sure Deidre is training full time now, so I think UVA is a former employer now.

Here are 2 photos published on cyclingnews.com, one at Henderson, NC and another in Reston, VA.

Her team Velo Bella has an excellent blog. Her nickname "Grasshopper" I assume comes from her flat-back, elbows-up position on the bike. This section of Velo Bella's blog has race reports, several of which Deidre wrote.

A master of the 45-minute cross discipline, Deidre still did not hesitate to participate in 100k Ironcross, a race that she won with a time of 4 hours and 38 minutes. I had the priviledge of lining up on the same start line which naturally was the only time during the race that I saw her. I am a better groupie than racer, so I approached her after the race to ask all the dumb questions I am sure she gets. Her husband Buck was there and it was clear that this run up to worlds is also a result of excellent family support.

She placed 2nd to Betsy Shogren in the Verge Mid-Atlantic series this year. It appears she divided her time between that series and the US Gran Prix series that Lyne Bessette won.

I find it interesting that she was named "rookie of the year" in several articles like this one. She has not been a "rookie" in terms of ability for several years. I guess this was the first year of her full dedication to cyclocross and she sure has proven herself.

Dec-skip winter-July

(left, Iowa, people, Iowa. Photo source)

Sunday: Cyclo-cross season ended.

Monday: Planning for summer trips began.

Tuesday: Decision finalized with Steph. We are doing Ride Across Iowa July 22-28, 2007. That's 470 miles inside the heartbeat de Americana. Dar Williams’ song Iowa has been swimming in my head all day.

Wednesday: YOU get on the Ragbrai website and register under team name “Tripower.” Since final selections are made by lottery, all who want to ride together register as a team. No need to be a Tripower member. I just typed a convenient name.

Thursday till Dec 21: YOU send me, team leader, your waiver and $125 check written to Ragbrai. All the team entries must be mailed together.

Dec 21: I will send all waivers and checks.

Come on, this will be a blast. Ragbrai is the oldest cross-state tour and it’s way cheaper than the other ones I checked out. For $125 we ride for 70 miles a day for a week with 8000 others. Cycling, camping, microbrews, American pie. I emailed the organizer who said 99% of those who register get in, so don’t let the lottery selection stop you. Who is IN?!

Portrait of a commuter as a young (?) racer

(left, Is he commuting or is he racing? Chris Dinsmore competes in cross, road and mt bike events and also commutes to work in downtown Norfolk. Here, he adds style to Trashmore Cross race. Photo by JB.)

Cycling safety on local roads has been in the news the last couple of weeks. In one article, Norfolk council member, Theresa Whibley, spoke about the lack of safety when cycling on Hampton Blvd. She said something about taking her life into her hands while riding a short commute to work.

Next, Tom Coghill canceled his annual Celebration for Life charity ride in Virginia Beach. He said safety for the 1000 participants on biker-unfriendly Virginia Beach roads led to the cancellation. He said he was not happy to learn that the Beach had earned an honorable mention by League of American Bicyclists for being a “Bicycle Friendly Community.” There’s some interesting reading in the 46 comments that readers posted in response to the article. (Scroll to bottom of article for comments.)

Leave it to Kerry Dougherty to actually call the League and find out what the honorable mention designation actually means. She found out that “honorable mention” means only that the Beach is on the “cusp” of being Bicycle Friendly because of its efforts. So, just as Coghill had suspected, there was more spin to the award than substance.

I am not sure things will improve around here unless more cyclists stand up, organize, and start chipping away at the tasks. I ask myself what am I really doing to make things happen around here, and the answer is nothing really.

At the same time, I am discouraged by the avid-cyclist stance against multi-use bike paths. Sure, I think shoulders are ideal and I favor shoulders, but I also think the key to encouraging the average person to commute to work is multi-use bike paths. The Beach has paths on London Bridge Road, Dam Neck Road, Princess Anne Road, Little Neck Road, Great Neck Road, small part of Shore Drive, parts of the Oceanfront, and coming soon to Birdneck Road.

Looking at the city as a whole, I agree with Coghill, Dougherty and most cyclists that Virginia Beach is biker-unfriendly. But we gotta give them credit for the muti-use paths that can serve as key commuter routes once more linking happens. Think about D.C. They are moving slowly toward a goal, and perhaps a few fires under them (cyclists) can move things along faster. I am glad that Coghill did not let his fantastic ride go down quietly.

(above, Cyclists spin through Ocean Lakes neighborhood on 2006 Celebration for Life ride in Virginia Beach. Photo by Bob Devich)

Circle of what?

(right, Blueprint of circle of death planned for Trashmore Cross Sunday. Photo by JB.)

How is it that I had never heard of “circle of death” until like yesterday? This term is of the interdisciplinary sort, encompassing an old movie, a three-way tie, a drinking game, antithesis of circle of life, a Soviet air maneuver, a child’s bike game.

Circle of death in cyclocross I just learned is the concentric circles staged on flat sections of courses to test technical skills and to get you dizzy. I remember rolling through one at Ironcross prologue. I did wonder how it is that we moved toward the center of this no-exit maze and still managed to get out without intersecting lines. I knew the sense of the thing but knew not its name.

I will see up close how it’s designed this Sunday. Hosang is adding one to the Trashmore Cross course, scene of this year’s VA State Cross Championships.

All things aero

Three peat for Conte's women. (left) Annette won the overall women's division at the 1st Cape Henry Duathlon yesterday. (center) Cook won the 35-39 age group and was 4th overall. (right) And Julie won 25-29 age group. There were about 80 female finishers. Photo source: triduo.com

Sludge Art

Mud is everywhere, still, two days after the rainy Urban Cross race. I managed a late-lap endo into the mud on an off-camber downhill section, packing mud into the my helmet rivets (see left). That would be the second time a Specialized helmet did its job for me this year.

The race was staged around the old textile mill in Charlottesville where several murals were painted during a 2004 art show. The murals reminded me that we were making a different kind of art out there. Race photos by Kevin and mural photos by Brian Hall.

It's not about the light

The clean well-lighted place is way overrated. It’s really about the padded back-supported chair. I put my Knoll Bulldog to the test by not moving from it much last week to finish a thesis endurance-racer style. Like any endurance event, it became less about how much sleep I was missing and more about whether or not my tail would endure.

I am indebted to that chair much as I am indebted to my San Marco Regal saddle that has been my longstanding road saddle. In fact, in my delirium I found myself so grateful for the chair and saddle, that I dedicated the thesis to Dave Waters since he is the one who introduced me to the San Marco Regal. He said to always have a back up in a box and I still do to this day.

I am also grateful to a support crew who supplied me coffee and pizza feeds (Sally and Mike), and a tech crew who took my computer crash calls (Robert and Susan). My competitor? The clock of course.

Double Draft

Ride leaders seem to come in pairs. BJ and Cook (left) specialize in speedy rides that have wine worked into the schedule. Tim N Bill (right) will take you out of town, drop you hard, but smile and say good job at the end. Crazy-Dog Productions (b. left) finds the hardest events, sets a high standard for perfomance, and they prod and needle until you either believe in yo'self or lose it.

Wes and I (b. right) only navigate through Norfolk and only at night. Our newest Wed ride goes from Ghent Conte's to Ipswich trails in Chesapeake where we ride single track with night lights.

Photo sources:

JB, Kev, Wes,cassbarbour.com

Top 10

(left, Carol holds up the number 4 indicating the 4 minutes she needed to catch me. I'm in trouble next year. Photo by John Blaszczak.)

Why do Iron Cross, the country's longest cross race?

10. Teammates don't need to block for one another but can compete. <<<<<<<

9. No pasta found on the restaurant menu. Enjoy steak and Jagermeister the night before a race.

8. Lots of cross-bikeable doubletrack.

7. The “potty mouth” crawl up competition. Previous winner: Liz. Current record holder: Art

6. The Hostel hostile sign award. Last year’s winner: "Do not under any circumstances open this door—EVER." This year’s winner: "Do not close the kitchen door—EVER." (Awesome place to stay.)

5. Racing is optional. If you would rather just ride, no one cares.

4. Lots of cross-bikeable singletrack.

3. Spotty cell reception limits outside contact and opens conversation with “misunderstood” people like Gene.

2. Team alliances blur inside the PA border. Here, VBV, AABikes, TP and HCC actually work together to snuff out Crazy’s complications and get hold of the Brenna Bars.

1. Free entry to Ironmaster’s Hostel Bad Film Festival presented by Anti-Art Director Dog. Last year’s feature: Boogey Man Current Bad Movie: V for Vendetta.


--Check out Alicia's Blog and Danielle's Blog and John's Blog for detailed race reports.

Hands full

(below, Enhanced IC logo, stolen from Alisha Lion's blog and displayed here before Kevin gets ahold of it.)

I got to looking at the list of women registered for Iron Cross next weekend. None of those only-first-name-needed back country masters are registered yet. No Erin, Cara, Mandi, or Deidre.

So I googled those who are registered. Found out there is a Webcor/ Platimum pro road racer, Alisha Lion, who also has a cool blog. Another racer and blogger, Alicia Parr, is an elite triathlete with a long ol’ list of top 3 finishes.

Another competitor, Eva G, won a 60-mile off road Paul’s Dirty Enduro in Ontario just last month. Equally scary is Jill W who was the 2005 Xterra Mid-Atlantic regional champ and who does Odyssey off-road tris on a regular basis. Looks as if Eva V does mostly on-road tris, the long ones of course. Then there is my own teammate Carol who keeps getting in secret cross miles behind my back. Shh--.

So it may need to just be Liz on Liz. I did 5:48 on a mt bike last year while in better climbing shape. However, I am using a cross bike this year, so that should compensate for slower climbing. I can subtract time for mental edge of knowing what is coming. So the goal is sub-5:40.

See some images from last year.

Echelon in rock gardens

(right, My new, used Fuji Cross)

This has been said before I’m sure. . . . Cross has settled in me, turned around the idea that it had to be mountain bike or road bike but never both. That I could not enjoy smooth speed and single track on the same bike ride.

That I could not have echelon in rock gardens.

No finesse with flame, beauty with brawn, you know it—the lace and the leather—or rather lycra shorts and whippet print jersey.

There, it’s been said again.

An Instant Ago

(Are we at this Meadow again?! l-r, Woodhouse, Starkey, Lori, Pete, Sally, Liz, McMahon, Steph, Gilmer and Robert gather at foot of Grandfather Mountain in NC.)

Excerpts from editorial published in Lenoir News Topic last week:
View the entire article.

Virginia Beach-based Tripower Cycling Club and friends join the Bridge to Bridge 100-mile peloton to take on Grandfather each year. The Beach pack has been 10, 12 sometimes 16 riders strong over the past 9 years. We have all but patented the “I live in the flats” excuse given to cyclists we meet during this mountain century and take pride in telling fellow riders that many parts of the Hampton Roads region are even below sea level.
*******

Jim, John and Gene finished in the top 50 in 2002. The following year, Katrina and Richard both ascended Grandfather after having bailed early the year before. Last year, 62-year-old Pete completed the ride. It was his first mountain ride. Ever. And his daughter Sally was the first Hampton Roads woman to ever break a 6-hour finish time.

“Just being in that group of all the athletes is an ego trip. It’s such a great feeling being on the start line with the team and other superb athletes from all over the country,” Woodhouse said.
*******

The pre-ride dinner yarns at Lenoir Sagebrush were as colorful as the mass start pageantry. This year, we badgered Robert for mysteriously retiring from cycling for six months immediately following last year’s B2B and for scheduling his upcoming wedding around this year’s event. We lied a bit to first timers Mike and Gilmer about the last two miles up Grandfather. We joked about strapping our timing chips onto Gilmer’s front handlebars since he was the clear favorite for reaching the top first. We talked about food intake strategy and hydration.

“The game faces were on and the drinkers didn’t drink,” Sally Tempest said.
*******

Woodhouse's 12-year B2B history all came together at mile 60 when the serious climbing started. Every year, he starts up the Route 181 ascent only to discover the “entire year has passed by in an instant, and here I am doing it again. It never seems like it’s been a year. It feels like I was just there an instant ago.”
*******

Bill Gilmer and Gene Rutledge placed in the top 50 finishers and Sally Tempest was the third woman across the line. Six others in our group completed the ride, and mechanicals forced two to abandon at the 80-mile mark.

Cycling Blogs Pimp the Sponsor

(right, Jason's pre-race blog entry gives bike sponsor Salsa a "fungus" field test rather than a sterile magazine field test.)

Manufacturers, businesses and nonprofits have long supported competitive professional and amateur cycling by offering equipment and clothing, giving cash, and providing race support products ranging from food items to team cars. Ours is an expensive sport with sponsors often playing a vital role to those who race road, mountain, cyclocross, track, alley cat, triathlon, and bicycle motocross. In turn, cyclists do a variety of things to promote those who support them, incorporating sponsor products into cycling webblogs most recently.

Manufacturers have recognized blogging as an authentic platform for exposing their products. In Industry Giants Press Blogs into Service, Cannondale Bicycle Corporation webmaster Janet Maurice said, “Blogging allows us to communicate to our community in an authentic, real, passionate way,” after the bike company entered blog sphere in March 2005.

But what exactly constitutes “authentic” language in the landscape of cycling blogs and how does that in turn help promote sponsors? To answer this question, I needed to sort through the overwhelming number of cycling blogs to find a few for case studies.

Read More

No way

How to descend on a fixed-gear mountain bike Photo ©: Bill McCarrick/www.buffalo2step.com

I have made it a point to personally congratulate those I know who finished Shenandoah 100. That race is mind and body numbing to say the least. Beneline, Gilmer, Starkey, Mary and Kev are superhuman.

But my brain is really having a hard time comprehending a few who finished the same race under extraordinary circumstances. There is a whole class of guys—riding FIXED gears—who finished. That’s right, some of the most technical dirt and rock descents in the country on fixed gears. Never mind getting up those evil climbs. I really would not have believed it possible until I saw in the results that 5 guys finished in this new category, all of them under 11:30. Who are these men?

Sue George wrote a race recap that posted on cyclingnews.com.

Let it ride

Help me let go. 8 speed Cannondale Cad 3. Very good condition. Frame size small (fits most 5'-0 to 5'-5). Headshok recently serviced, new cassette, new stem. XT V-brakes, XT rear derailleur, XT rapid fire shifters. Icon crankset—sweet, Avid brake levers. Decals all intact but lots of paint chipped from chainstay. Perfect for a woman just checking out the scene or a junior who will grow out of it. Will exchange knobbies for slicks if you'd prefer a city bike. It's now on ebay. Email me for link. bikevoice@cox.net.

I helped Carol move (again) last weekend. I snagged this curio before it could get thrown out. Why? I don’t know. Hate to see things tossed, reward for the work, being first in the dumpster line--something. This is free to whoever buys the bike. Or just free to whoever wants it! 18" tall.

If you want to see what I have listed on ebay, email me for links. 9 sp used crankset, Lemond 50 frame, 9sp barely used bar end shifters, 8sp new cassette, 8 sp new chain.

Rough stuff

Left, Pro sprinter Tina Pic went down after a clash with Laura Van Gilder at National Crit Championship this week. She was a'right. Source: Dave Schneider

Right top, Fatmarc takes the saddle sore to the next level during 18 Hours on the Farm mt bike race. Sorry could not resist. Source: Bikes and Beer

Bottom right, Don't you just hate these people? Source: Epic Riding

Not pictured, Stinging Nettles plant. How could I have never encountered these? Beneline and I both got stung while doing the Braley Pond mt bike loop Monday. Not knowing how long the sting would last (5ish minutes)was the hard part. We then drove on fire roads (I was way deer shy) to Wild something or another loop which was outstanding. I felt different on downhills, faster, for the first time really seeing through the trail not seeing it if you know what I mean.

Cross crash course

(right, Mike Stoop does the January Trashmore Cross run-up. He was high school Beach district cross country champ a few years ago. Photo by Wes Cheney.)

Along comes cross season, always too quickly, forcing me to ask myself when was the last time you ran? I answer back, I can't remember the last time I walked, really walked, let alone ran. How much running is really necessary to get ready for cross?

Michael said why train for any more than one minute sprints since you'll never run longer than that in a cross race? That sounded like my kind of plan, so I grabbed whatever I could find to back that up. I skimmed this article, basically picking out the short run parts. Here is a paragraph from the article (my comments in blue):

"Once they begin, a mistake many riders make is to go for long, extended runs. Who exactly would do this? That's one pitfall I can easily avoid. That's great if you're training for a 10K, but in 'cross you have to be specific. I like that word specific. Take a look at the length of time you're typically on foot in a 'cross race. I guess we need to ignore the Ironcross crawl-up for this quiz. Normally it's for stretches where you're at maximum intensity for about 15 seconds or so, and the longest a run should be in a well-designed 'cross course is 80 meters. Would someone tell Hosang that the Trashmore steps are longer than 80 meters? Sounds more like a short sprint to me than a 10K… 'Cross races might be lost on the runs, but they're rarely won. Yes, I get the rarely won part. It's still mostly about who can pedal their bike the fastest." So true.
--from "Running for Cyclo-Cross" by Adam Hodges Myerson

Local links

SONYA N. HEBERT/THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT photo in Sunday's paper shows Hosang up front, followed by Greco, then what looks like two guys from Team Seigler Imports in Richmond, along with the rest of Cat 1-3 peleton in Chesapeake Criterium.

Lots more photos and race summaries on K-Blogg and Love2Ride.

Looking for answers

Hey bloggers, help me with a paper I am writing about cycling blogs! Respond to at least 2 questions below in comments section (give me DETAILS) and I will link to your blog and reference it in the paper. If you would rather email me answers, please do. bikevoice[at]cox.net

Thanks very much!

Brilliance

How has a cycling blog(s) other than your own influenced you?

Word works

Describe a situation in which your blog somehow changed or determined a behavior or an event.

Woo Effect

Describe how your blog has generated interest (or disinterest) in your team, club, shop or other group.

Standards

What is your criteria for creating a good blog post?

Loyalties

I gotta ask. Do you spend more time on the bike or on the blog?

Share the road

Really there is not much to the story. I was tucked in behind John F, Bob C, Susan and Harlan. Behind me sat Gener, Rich, Woodhouse, Austin, Lance, Katrina and Vince, all returning from Creeds store. Also, the mystery guy who does not wear a helmet had latched onto us, but that’s a different story.

We had just hit a straightaway on Nanney’s Creek Road in Pungo going about 23 mph when a deer shot in front of leader John. We all turned to look left for any deer following. Here comes number two. It bolted through the pack, somehow navigating through a tiny, moving gap between Susan and mystery guy. I had started to slow and could see deer #3 in a full sprint. No stopping it, the world had spun for millions of years and my time with Bambi had come. It was the perfect calculation of motion, me now at 20 mph, this doe going 30 I guess, and SMACK on my front end. Deer did not slow a fraction and vanished. I landed hard in a chucky gravel driveway, helmet taking a nice hit. The Easton fork fractured but wheel held up, and I had deer hairs in my gloves and on my helmet. Start to finish, about 5 seconds.

Everybody held lines without panic so there was no pile up. With a less experienced group and a little less luck, it could have been ugly. It was a Zabriskie moment where one person is just plucked from a tight paceline, though my culprit was not an invisible one.

Vince called Janet, our team Pungo transport liaison, who took me to VB General for a check. The hospital had my name in their system, but they never asked to see an ID and didn’t ask for a co pay. Interesting. Doc said no concussion but take a prescription for headaches. Nurse gave me a tetanus shot for road rash and animal encounter. The most valuable lesson I learned from this is that the cycling grapevine is ALIVE. Thanks for the calls.

Breakaway

I’m into pens. Nice ones, like my blue Pilot Precise V5 Extra Fine. So we are sitting there at Panera after the Tuesday morning ride when Sally, Carol and I got to talking race tactics. I lent my legal pad and prized pen to Carol who gave a lesson on tactics (see diagram) though who would ever know by the diagram that race tactics was the topic? She was driving home some point about riders in the front of peleton (see repeated circles) but I drifted off, worried that the pen was suffering under the pressure of whatever point she was trying to make. I started a different tactical game of getting the pen out of her hand and giving her a junky one.

Plans A, B, C

It’s astounding that it has never occurred to me. I’m thinking the way to evacuate the area in event of coming hurricane would be by bicycle. The auto evacuation options suggested by the state take me through the Downtown Tunnel. The state says to leave 24 to 14 hours before tropical force winds hit. Once everyone hits the road on the limited out-routes, there would be no movement. Often discussed scenario around here.

I considered that John peddled 375.8 miles in 24 hours in a recent race. Let’s say I cut 100 miles from that for vicious wind and other trauma. That would still put me in Blacksburg, VA by the time the tropical storms hit Hampton Roads.

Campostella or Berkley Bridge would get me to South Norfolk. Easy ride across Jordan Bridge from there (PA on map). If something goffey is going on there like the bridge stuck in the up position, it’s a 10 minute ride down Bainbridge Blvd. to Gilmerton Bridge (PB). If the powers there won’t let me cross since they think I’m nuts, I really give them a show and swim across the river with bike in tow (PC). From there, it’s Rt. 13/ 460 west with lots of back road options. There would be gridlock everywhere, and being a “move” among the “move nots,” I would need to prepare for being doored and such.

Charmed Life

(right, BJ Samuel takes in the silver spot on the Masters National Criterium Championship podium.)

Gosh, I don't even know where to start with a Nationals report. BJ is an amazing competitor who does not carry race anxiety baggage anywhere. She is all about getting to know other racers, respecting their accomplishments and plain just having fun. I mean, this is the kind of thing that motivates BJ:

"Before I left, Laura agreed to eat a bite of hamburger and Art agreed to eat green beans if I made the podium. I won - they lost! I'll try and schedule a ceremony, which will probably turn into a gag fest, watching them pay up their bets :-)" --BJ

BJ had a late Wednesday Time Trial start time 5:18:30 (got it memorized since she said it 100 times) and throughout the day every weather event imaginable hit western PA--humidity, wind, cold, pouring rain--but she refused to have anything but a winner's attitude all day. This TT course could not have been any fun in the rain which fell at 5:18:30. We are talking 50+ mph descents and small ring grinder climbs. She hammered across the finish line for a bronze performance behind a pure climber Kay Tsui (gold) who did 46:44 at Wintergreen TT and Jo Garuccio(silver) who is a six-time worlds triathlon champion.

BJ attempted her signature move in the Friday’s Criterium--get away and work with who comes. If only one person had been willing to work when they opened up gaps, there could have been a break created, but they were content to stay put. That was fine except that it made sense for people to want a breakaway since the chicane and short straitaway at the end meant those who just sat in would have little chance of passing the lead riders in a bunch sprint. So she firmly established her position up front, never drifting back past 4th wheel, and had great position in the chicane last lap. Kay pulled off an explosive sprint, BJ answered but she’s more 18-wheeler power than explosion. They left the field behind in the straitaway, Kay (HPC/ List) gold, BJ (TriPower) silver. They both dominated the field throughout the race.

Personal note, I finally got to Pittsburg. We drove in Thursday, easily found Mount Washington, and had lunch looking down on the city.

E=MyCalves

Good to see Jon Devich is back as a Tour photographer. Many of his images are showing in Cycling News and on his website.

I have been conserving a bit of fuel by cycling to the Saturday ride rather than driving there. I have been accompanied by Wes, one who is pretty adamant about not driving to rides, so it works out well. Perhaps this goes without saying, but when energy is saved from one source, it exahausts another. By the time I do 20 miles out, 55 ride, 20 back, I am wiped out for the remainder of the day. I may not be consuming but I am being consumed.

My Picks

Tour de France Podium? 2nd José Azevedo, 1st Floyd Landis, 3rd Levi Leipheimer

Preserving the moments

Nice Richmond Times-Dispach article about the recent X-Terra weekend event in downtown Richmond. Awesome mt bike race, my favorite of the year.

Also, great coverage of Nick Bax's win in Silver Spring, MD race by Washington Post last weekend.

(see left) So why does screaming down a hill on a bicycle feel so much safer than riding a roller coaster? Judging from the photo, I am alone in thinking Apollo's Chariot is pure evil. This "hypercoaster" at Busch Gardens has a 210 foot drop, 8 additional drops, and no darn shoulder harnesses.

[front row, Sally (grandstanding), Kisha, Pamela, and Liz (losing it) take on Apollo.]

Goings On

Susan hit an errant squirrel on a Sunday spin 2 weeks ago. The injured was somewhat mobile but in bad shape. Susan said call Peta. I was impressed with their response. Two women arrived, titles and credentials a blur, but they had the know-how to euthanize our squirrel on the spot once they determined he had internal injuries. Susan cried for the little one, I cried that people were willing to assist an animal often considered a pest on a Sunday. They took him away in towels and left kind words. Ethical for sure.

My childhood is cluttered with major poison ivy events. I grew up in Roanoke, VA where poison ivy stalks skin and sure had it out for mine. My dad would buy me useless Calamine Lotion and sit up with me when my rash was at its sleepless peak, and we’d talk about when he was a kid, dead presidents, what distinguishes the material from the spiritual, stuff like that.




Times they have a-changed. As I pre-rode the X-Terra mountain bike race course in Richmond Sunday, I brushed up with a bit of ivy bordering the single track. I have seen commercials for prevention meds, so I checked out what could keep me from sleepless nights. There is now a whole line of products that promise to remove poison ivy oils before a rash even breaks out. I could have spent up to $40 but opted for the $10 brand since the exposure had been minimal. No rash, zzzz.






The 10th annual Amphibious Assault race was another success this past Saturday. Ann emailed me calling “FOUL” after she saw this picture of the women’s 40+ race. She said I was obviously trying to grab her—even when I look at it, I can’t figure out what I was doing at the time. Guess that’s why there are rules about hands staying on bars. Very fun race. (photo and lots others of all races in John's gallery.)

The Pendleton A race is a weekly Tuesday night showdown between Tripower, the Red team, Bike Zone team, Northend, the Blue team, Hilton Cycling, Fat Frogs and scattered individuals. This past week, I counted a dozen breakaways before it all merged into a field sprint. The Tripower Chrabot brother instigated the most breaks and the Snow Valley Chrabot brother won the sprint. (photo by BJ Samuel.)

Kev may look like a dog (Hosang's words) but he slides like a cat. He slid out on the last turn (turned left but went right as Marc would say) of the race but showed no signs of even landing on his butt or legs.

Nice Beacon article on Eric Alger, local firefighter who is also avid cyclist, published last week. He has served as volunteer EMT at a few of our cycling events. I have not seen him in a while come to think of it. (photo by Staci Dennis, Virginia Beach Beacon, 06/11/06.)

Cap Tech

(left, Andrea Dvorak of CRC sets the pace up Main Street in Richmond.)

I finally made it to Richmond to see the NRC Cap Tech Classic this year. I skated from work early Thursday and was in downtown Richmond eating and taste testing beer with the Wards and Carol by 5:30 pm.

Cap Tech is a crit course with a brutal climb up Main Street, a screaming downhill with 5 turns, then a brief flat section leading back to the climb. Ouch. The line up is simple: pro 1-3 women first, then pro 1-2 men in twilight.

Local women Dee Dee Winfield and Andrea Dvorak of Charlottesville Racing Club hung in there with the pros Colavita, Lipton, Diet Cheerwine, etc., and even did much of the pace making up the climb. This climb reminds me of the infamous Manayunk Wall in Philly--a bit less steep but probably longer.

In the 150-at-the-start men's invitational, Paul did an amazing job holding his own against the best in the country. John was paying better attention than I was so read his blog. Winners: Tina Pic and Davide Frattini, both Colavita. Bob Roll did live commentary for the crowd and Outdoor Life Network during both races.

Yep, I am getting old, because watching the big screen, staring at Bob Roll, walking the course, hanging out in the VIP tent, clocking the downhill speed all had a ton more appeal to me than the thought of attacking that hill every few minutes.