Cyclocross World Championships

The Cyclocross World Championships were held this weekend in the Netherlands. If you haven't heard of cyclocross, it is one of the most fun things to do on your bike while feeling like your heart and lungs are about to explode. And did I mention that some of the best riders in the world are right here in the Pacific Northwest?

The racer in the photo above is Ann Knapp, she is from Des Moines Washington and placed 9th in the Elite Women's race today. She was the top US woman, finishing just ahead of Lyne Besssette (of Canada). Lynn dominated Women's cyclocross in the US this year.

Ann is a great rider and an even greater person. She is always cheering people on and encouraging them to do better. My dad got to know her pretty well while he was rehabing from a broken collarbone last year (that is an entirely different story and I have to take partial credit - blame? - for that accident).

The top US Men's finisher was Jonathan Page. This was his third or fourth year of racing in Europe and he has consistently been a top 20 finisher in the European races this year.

Read more about this at Cycling News or Velo News

Go Huck Yourself

Some of the world's best free riders will be in Renton WA this weeked for THE GATHERING I am heading down there with some buddies to check out the action on Friday night.

Bike Lingo Translator

I cannot take credit for the sayings below. They were sent to me by a friend. And are too funny not to share. So read on...

"I'm out of shape"
Translation: I ride 400 miles a week and haven't missed a day since the Ford administration. I replace my 11-tooth cog more often than you wash your shorts. My body fat percentage is lower than your mortgage rate.

"I'm not into competition. I'm just riding to stay in shape"
Translation: I will attack until you collapse in the gutter, babbling and whimpering. I will win the line sprint if I have to force you into oncoming traffic. I will crest this hill first if I have to grab your seat post, and spray energy drink in your eyes.

"I'm on my beater bike"
Translation: I had this baby custom-made in Tuscany using titanium blessed by the Pope. I took it to a wind tunnel and it disappeared. It weighs less than a fart and costs more than a divorce.

"It's not that hilly"
Translation: This climb lasts longer than a presidential campaign. Be careful on the steep sections or you'll fall over -- backward. You have a 39x23 low gear? Here's the name of my knee surgeon.

"This is a no-drop ride"
Translation: I'll need an article of your clothing for the search-and-rescue dogs.

"It's not that far"
Translation: Bring your passport

SUPER BOWL

The Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl. Yeah baby!!

Century #1 - 2006

I rode my first century of the new year on Saturday. For this ride I took out my trusty multi-speed bike, a Novara Strada that I have had for almost two years now.

This century marked the one year anniversary of our riding goal from 2005 to complete one century per month for the entire year. I managed to ride 10 out of the 12 centuries that my friend Chris rode to complete his goal. After completing all 12, Chris learned that a friend had been able to extend his one year goal to 14 months. Naturally, the new goal is to go for 15 months of riding a century per month.

Yesterday was century number 13 and was ridden on the same course as last January - the Daffodil classic in Orting. This year we did not get lost and completed both loops as designed by the Tacoma Wheelmen. We rode the South loop first and were joined by two other friends and a rider from my God Son's Jr. racing team - ASC Junior Racing (aka Oh Boy Oberto!). This loop seemed pretty flat and I actually rode the first 25 miles in one gear and then the second 25 miles in a slighter higher gearing when Chris decided to "up the tempo."

The North loop was after lunch and was just Chris and I. This one has a steep climb after about 8 miles on the flat. This loop was not to be completed pretending to ride a single speed. We got wet, muddy and had a fun time. The sun even came out for the 25 miles or so of the ride. As we were riding through the neighborhoods of Orting (putting in enough miles to get up to 100) we saw an eagle and got some awesome views of Mt. Rainier.

The South loop included some adventure riding when we encountered a road sign. Did we follow the detour? Of course not. We rode through the road closed signs and eventually had to get off our bikes and poach our way through the construction site by crossing over a bridge that is being rebuilt.

It isn't a ride unless you have a bit of adventure! All in all it was a great ride. Of course, it is a great ride any time you are on your bike.

First Alley Cat

This is the flyer for my first Alley Cat race.


My friend Chris and I rode our first Alley Cat race last Saturday night in Seattle. It was sponsored by Cranked Magazine, celebrating the first issue of their new mag. Check them out if you get a chance. It is a pretty cool publication.



Now, on to the details...

The race started at 6 PM and it was raining like a mofo. We got plenty soaked, but had a blast riding through the streets of Seattle to the four stops listed on our manifest. At each stop we got another clue that sent us to another location to get some information and also gave us an item to pick up along the way to the finish - The Rendevous in Bell Town.

I'm kind of dense, so did not put all this together until the day after the race. Each of the stops was at a newspaper of some type and each of the items we had to pick up were free news papers, except for the Real Change which costs a buck. So, the whole theme was based around publishing - which makes sense for an Alley Cat sponsored by a magazine celebrating their first publication!

These were the stops on the race manifest - The Seattle Weekly, The Stranger, The Seattle Times and the Seattle P.I. The start was at the Owl and Thistle in Post Alley and (like a said earlier) ended at The Rendevous in Bell Town. You could go to the four stops in any order and follow any route to get there. We chose to go in the order I listed the stops above since The Weekly is only one block away from The Owl and Thistle.

That is where the fun began. Chris and I had agreed to ride the race together and reviewed our strategy for stops and a very loosely designed route between them. At the start he fired out of the gates... And took a wrong turn! You might be asking yourself "How do you get lost going one block?!" The answer - You follow somebody that does not know where they are going. The last I saw of him he was headed toward First Avenue. By the time I got him on his phone he had made it to Pike Place Market - about 1/4 of mile North of our first stop!

To be continued...

Just Getting Started

This is my first fixie. It turned out to be a way bigger project than I thought it would be. The bike looked cool. Little did I know what I was in for. The French do everything their way. In other words, all the parts for the Peugeot must be the French standard. Which is not the same as the standard that everybody else in the world (well almost everybody) follows. Enough said. It was worth the extra effort to get this bike up and rolling.