Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2010

Congrats to Juan Antonio Flecha for the win. It was a long time coming, after watching all those videos of him coming in 2nd or 3rd, or 4th, etc...



If you want to check out some video clips of the race, copy and paste:
http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/100226_Omloop_verslag#

(Photo: cyclingnews.com)

-Joe

Tour du Haut Vaur 2010

This clip is from the final kilometers of the second and final stage of the recent Tour du Haut Vaur. I wonder how Chistophe Le Mevel's legs and vision were feeling with the chasers so close to him coming to the line!

Killin' it!

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/murray74/sets/72157623483445616/)

Great job Rainier!

-Joe

Project California Version 1

Project California Version 1

To Danville.... I mean Mt. Diablo

Didn't expect to slide on the ground on my whole left side, embarking on this ride.... I'm actually writing this post because I'm home and not racing or riding. Also didn't expect to ride with Mr. Fast Freddy Rodriguez of Rock Racing haha. I got a lot more jacked than I thought, but still had fun nonetheless. I won't regurgitate the details, but the short version is that four of us went down on some slippery muddy surface around this left hand turn and it sucked. Bunch of road rash, "hippers", and I think a popped out shoulder (Blake is savage for continuing to ride with a messed up shoulder)? A road rashed/bruised/swollen hip is very uncomfortable to have when you're trying to sleep or even get out and about. Let's get better and ready for Merced next weekend!

-Joe

Catching up...

Late on the race report from last weekend but long story short, Rainier and I got up super early again (as with all races), drove a couple hours to Coalinga, and raced in the Cantua Creek RR. It was a 13 mile out and back course with some rollers and an uphill finish that seemed kind of long at some parts. The wind was a slight factor mostly during the flat sections, and I can only imagine what it felt to go on a solo break. Rainier raced in the 4's and got 8th, while I raced in the 5's and ended up 4th. Felt pretty good with my effort during the last uphill stretch and I was actually surprised that many of the strong looking guys blew up near the finish. I rode the wheel of the kid who ended up getting second, up until the last couple of meters and we all gave it a good effort so I'm content. Things will get a little faster and tougher now, as I upgraded to a 4. We'll see how it goes!

-Joe

Grasshopper

A photoset from a 55 mile offroad and onroad cross race in Sonoma County. Look for Walton and Chas, from Mash and TCB courier, crossing this crazy creek.

-Rainier

Cancellara's Milan-San Remo

Not sure why, but I've been watching this last 10K of the 2008 Milan-San Remo every night for the past couple of nights. Just fun to watch I guess, and Cancellara just seems to time the attack at that perfect moment. We all dream of going on a solo breakaway...

Found the clip on steephill.tv - if you haven't been on that site before, you better check it out now. Some of the best coverage with live updates, photos, video, analysis, etc from various sources overseas and local, depending on the race. They do a great job of making the material we all want to see, available! Not only does it post one or two videos, but sometimes 3 or more, from different sources! I also like the "Big Photos" link they usually have with each race coverage. Big photos are always fun to look at if you want to see how your favorite rider's bike is set up, or even just to see what kind of shoes they're rockin' haha.

It's around the 12:00 minute mark that Cancellara attacks to solo to victory. As Chcuk and I talked about earlier, we both wish we had "more matches to burn" to attack, stay away, and possibly solo out! There were one or two attacks this weekend at the Cantua Creek RR in the 5's that I raced in, and it was cool to see it try and form and stay away, and one of them did work for a while but got caught on the last lap.

Anyway, enjoy the video!

Milano - San Remo 2008
by burnie87

Some 2010 team bikes...

Vacansoleil - Batavus (ALUMINUM son! - it's a 105 yr old Dutch bicycle brand) - for some reason, one of my favorites...it's nothing crazy but it's clean and looks good IMO. I'm partial to Dutch things probably because of Sas haha.



Astana - Specialized S works



Rabobank - Giant TCR Advanced



Katusha - Ridley



Francaise des Jeux - Lapierre

(photos: roadbikeaction.com, velonews.com)

-Joe

Who's excited!?!?!

April 11, 2010

Snaked!

Check out the replay at 8:50... he's at the bottom of the screen. Chicci then makes his way through up the left side and comes out of nowhere to take the sprint! A fun one to watch unfold. At about 8:58 you see him start to come up that left side and then he just punches it!

EMX-5

Saw this on Velonews. Tom Boonen's Eddy Merckx EMX-5 that he's riding at the Tour of Qatar. We don't see too many of these in the US if at all. Sick.

Working

(Photo: grahamwatson.com)

-Joe

DEEP

Jonathan just posted this on the Mash Arkitip blog as I was about too! Prototype Mavic front wheel.



(Photo: Velonews.com)

-Joe

2010 Tour of Qatar Stage 3

-Joe

2010!

I know I'm a bit late. Been super busy lately, but somehow managed to squeeze in some blogging time today!

It's raining right now. The last few weeks, I had been training and it's been nothing but intensity. First race is coming up on Valentine's day at Brea. I'm going to get my butt kicked, but I think it's going to be okay.
2010 is going to be different, I think. I know I say this, but we have a ton of talents with roadbikes now.

WATCH OUT CALIFORNIA. Vegas is going to attack you from behind!


Training in the rain's no fun, but I find that plastic bags are very helpful. I covered up my shoes with regular grocery plastic bags and put my shoe covers on over it and it works real well! Shit also works in the snow, FYI.
Plastic bags are great...I really don't have anything to write about so I'm going to write about plastic bags. Whoever invented plastic bag's a genius! Who knew that plastic bags were not only good for carrying the foodz. It can also save your life, your feet, and your cycling shoes...

I'm pretty sure I have nothing else to say after that...soooo...goodbye for now.


-chcuk.

Never thought we would see the day...

...that Bryan Novelo would get a road bike. Well, he picked up a clean looking Kestrel from Danny Kam and is planning to race this season. We took a pleasant ride the other day to break it in and he's getting to know his new bike.















-Joe

Cherry Pie Crit 2010

Novelo and I rolled up to Napa bright and early for the race. He wasn't sure if he was going to race, and ended up not participating. Oh well, next time Novelo! The course was fun, and a nice change of pace from the Early Bird course in Fremont. With a uphill section leading to a U-Turn, it was interesting and I had fun racing. I felt like I could have moved up a little bit earlier than I did during the last lap, but ended up getting a little pinched at the S curve section before the final uphill to the finish. Still managed to come up through the pack and ended up 9th right behind Kevin. Lesson learned with moving up earlier during the finishing moments, and I can't wait to try a few things differently in some upcoming races. Rainier raced in the 4's and did well too, finishing 11th! Beautiful day in Napa...






Juniors start line



Mr. Focused












Strong finishers in Elite 4

-Joe

Caloi

If you ever have a chance to stop by Mellow Johnny's in Austin, you can see many of Lance's bikes (whether you care or not!) that he rode during his Tours de France. This one below is his Worlds winning bike from 1993 - Team Motorola Caloi colorway.



-Joe

Done and done.

Looking very terminator/T-1000 like. Good job Garrett.



-Joe

ADT

ADT Velodrome will host Upgrade/Experience Builder Races this season for riders in Cat(-egory) 4/5. These races will fall on the last Saturday of every month. Nathan and I went out last Saturday to race. I took 3rd.



-Ryan