An Odd Quality & A New Podcast
new podcast May 5th, 2008
This installment of the podcast is full of Tour of Georgia talk, local racing that wasn’t, Rasta chimes in, a non-plussed girlfriend, how to train when you have other things going on- including getting older and much, much more. Its a long one- you’ll need a long car ride, bike ride or lots of laundry to fold to get through it.
The search for quality can take you to strange places, like this jersey. This may be the best jersey ever- and it may be the worst jersey ever- simultaneously.
I will attempt to explain. A component of quality is authenticity, and within authenticity there is truth. This kit is so unconsciously and unapologetically ugly it has claimed its own right to use every primary color, fade them into each other in random regions of the jersey then top it off with a pac-man inspired font.
Forget Aqua & Sapone’s zebra stripes, Polti’s ‘frog in a blender’ & Rock Racing’s Oakland Raiders meet various colors of slime- this jersey is badder than them all. The authenticity and truth of this kit is that it has no air about it.
If the cyclist who responded to the master when asked why he rode by saying, “I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle’, if that cyclist were a kit, this would be it. This jersey makes no apologies for itself, it just is.
By the way- the Twojohnspodcast can again be seen on a jersey.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:03 am
When do we get a full-on TJP kit? One to remedy all the bad kits out there . . .
May 6th, 2008 at 11:05 am
John the womanizer was not half-wheeling in the Tour de Georgia video. It just looks like he is half wheeling because he rides such a small bike…..his wheelbase is much smaller than a normal bike. Good job acting like you are not winded. I bought it.
May 6th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
John K. Get out of the laundry room for the next podcast. i can hear the washer in the background and the echo sound like you are in the bath room.
May 6th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I know- I didn’t know until after we recorded everything that my mic input was the built in one & not the one on the headphones. Definitly not quality, nor the laundry or bathroom- all mic input.
Jk in nc
May 6th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Operation Puerto first came to light in May 2006. Two years is more than enough time for a thorough investigation and to conduct trials, but only a small percentage of those originally named have been found guilty. Isn’t the number less than 5? Punish them. But, many riders’, if not the entire peloton, reputations and livelihoods have been ruined by speculation and innuendo. Look at it this way, the penalty for a doping conviction is a two year ban, and in many cases that is exactly what has been extracted, without any evidence or a conviction. Michael Ball may be the sanest voice in all of cycling. Go Rock Racing!
May 7th, 2008 at 7:03 am
Kent- your point brings us to the prerogative of the ASO to exclude whomever it wishes from its races as a matter of policing their events. Puerto was a state (country) led police operation. Is it the state’s role to police sport’s? Is policing bike racing their responsibility or the sport’s? This sport historically has had a difficult time policing itself. It is hard for me to see how hiring riders that deny any involvement in something where there is evidence of video surveillance and bank transfers, not to mention bags of blood linking them to Dr. Fuentes is doing anything to promote clean cycling. Not to mention when there are examples like Slipstream that have brought some name riders in, but have also grown and developed riders. It is sad how the cloud of distrust hangs over cycling, but it is more than speculation & innuendo- see, Virenque, Mueseuw, Jascke…
JK in NC
May 7th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Not at all. What I was trying to say is that it is a fundamental tenet of society that a person has the right to a speedy trial/hearing. If the evidence was as clear as you suggest, do you think the UCI would hesitate to charge them with a doping offense? One of the names mentioned in the podcast has been cleared (maybe better — charges dropped) by his country’s governing body and the other never had charges brought against him. Yes, there are bad apples, but most are honest, hard-working athletes who shed blood, sweat, and tears to become professional riders. — Hey, thumbs up from me for Slipstream!
May 7th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I agree with Kent. If they can prove guilt do so expediantly, enact penalties/punishment and then move on. It has been 2 years of mud slinging. Either prove the case or drop it. It really drags cycling down.
May 7th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
On a lighter note. JK, you sounded like you were doing an old blues record version of the 2 J’s podcast. Some slide guitar in the background would have been a nice touch. At least your mojo was still workin’. Go team” Howlin Wolf”
May 7th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
…speaking of Puerto, cyclingfans.com has a link for an article that says that Basso is going to be the face of the UCI’s antidoping crusade.
Here’s the link:http://eurosport.yahoo.com/06052008/58/basso-set-uci-drug-role.html
May 8th, 2008 at 4:07 am
hhmmmm, the jersey seems to be inspired by a Mexican Taco stand, but im sure
you look pretty in it.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Ritchey Boy- I love the low-fi recording.
JK in NC
May 8th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I agree. It’s Low-Fi or No-Fi!
May 9th, 2008 at 10:27 am
talk about poor quality! me nose breathing, the other john’s open air mic… sorry about that. I was using a new mic without a proper windscreen. we will correct the problems before the next ‘cast. (sent from my wife’s iphone whilst eating sushi).
May 10th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Without having seen all jerseys, I think it is safe to say that one is the worst.
May 10th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Hey, Quality is what you guys bring to the ride. Presentation is just is the result of the weather you’re dealt. It’s like the difference between Muddy Waters or Maroon Five. Like or not, you guys are the man! M..A..N! Though that kit (above) is something left over from A Roger Rabbit movie.
May 12th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Re: Assos ad in velonews.
Hello listeners. being a photographer and a guy who likes to pay attention to details, when john g said there was an ad with a guy overlooking a mountain pass wearing his bibs over his jersey, i had to open the issue of velonews i just bought to have a look-see. sure enough it does appear that joe assos has his bibs over his jersey. on closer inspection, i see the jersey is designed to look like the back of their new “next generation” bib short. how funny is that? now with this jersey, and bib combination, you can wear your bibs under and look like you are wearing them over! it’s like having your cake and eating it too.
i’m almost glad i can’t afford assos.
still it’s a better ad than the ass shot of the new assos bib short. literally, it’s a guy bending over. as if to say, “this is the view you will see all day, my assos bib short, cause they make me so fast!” or, it’s aiming at a whole other audience….[caring not to elaborate.]
either way, their ads are flying downhill.