The Great Wall…
nothing important June 2nd, 2008
…could not stop Todd from winning the local Beijing Wednesday Night World Championships. Word has it that all the Chinese guys clamor for Todd’s rear wheel and substantial draft, but he drops them faster than China’s growing population. Good job Todd.
John K. and I did a new podcast last night. It should be by this evening. I am anticipating a good weekend with the other John and his S.O. here in Cincinnati. He is coming to town to get some culture. Yours truly, and a few other cyclists, are taking the stage at the Contemporary Dance Theater’s Choreographers Festival 2008 in a piece called “Peloton.” What!!??? Cyclists on stage with modern dancers? I know, it sounds strange, but it feeds our need to show the uneducated the intricacies and quality of bicycle racing. It makes a good date night too. You can fool your lady into thinking you are really a sensitive new-age kind of guy by taking her downtown to the concert. Friday and Saturday night at the Aronoff Theater, 7:30 p.m.
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Love XTR tents at road events. I guess a sponsor is a sponsor. I would rather an XTR tent than no tent at all.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Ride your bike to the Aronoff and save on gas and parking. http://www.wvxu.org/news/wvxunews_article.asp?ID=5184
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:38 am
Excellent idea Ned! The show starts at 7:30 and should be done by 9′is. It is still somewhat light by then. We’ll see about secure bike parking in the lobby. I am riding my bike to work this morning then off to the River Rampage Ride after work.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Speaking of commuting, do you guys think that you could maybe do a quick segment on how to go from roadie on Sunday to commuter on Monday? For instance, I only own one bike, my road bike, which isn’t very commuter friendly. Maybe some advice on how to make it more feasible in the face of $4 gas?
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
You guys have it easy with your cheap fuel as its about double over here.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
modern dance = someone please kill me…
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Jackson,
I commuted 3-4 days a week while living in Cincy. Same bike for racing and commuting. I would plan ahead and leave clothes at work, as well as a towel, soap, etc. This assumes you have access to a shower. I surely didn’t sweat much during the winter commute, but the summers were sweaty. Great way to save gas, help the environment and get/stay in shape. Unfortunately, I have to drive to several locations a day in Phoenix and can no longer commute.
dog
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I usually take my bike to work with me so I can get my training ride in as soon as I get off. I figured why not just ride it to work rather than strapping it on the back of the car? I am going to experiment on Friday.
Welshsuperfan, I agree, you guys have it rough, sorry your gas is so high. At least you have cheap healthcare though.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Its ok my company pay for my fuel a I have a company car so its not so bad. Health is cheap but we do pay for it in a form of tax but you are right it is cheaper. Just did 2 crits back to back last night and boy that 2nd one was hard.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:59 am
If the bike/modern dance is anything like this scene from the 80’s BMX movie “Rad”, it will be sweet!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz3_0ucR8M8
I commute on my road bike through some bad roads of Chicago. I do the same the as the Desert Dog did, and drive to work on Monday’s,leave a bunch of clothes, and try to ride the rest of the week. I will admit I am a fairweather commuter and don’t ride if there is rain in the forecast, which seems to be the norm here in Chicago the last several months.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Today when I came to work I brought in two changes of clothes so I can commute Thursday and Friday. Last night I mapped out a fairly low traffic route so we will see how it goes.
There are no showers here, but the commute is only 7.5 miles one way, so I think if I can take a shower before I leave, towel off at work, maybe a baby wipe and cologne is all I need when I get here.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I do the drive into work on Monday method as well. This allows me to ride back and forth to home, but still have the car at work in case of bad weather or the need to use it for an out of office meeting. When it’s nasty winter weather I’ll use my cross bike with clip on fenders and smooth tires. Otherwise I ride my road bike.
Here’s my commuting checklist:
1) Think ahead about how many potential days that week you may commute then get the same amount of pairs of clean underwear, socks, etc…
2) I do not have a shower at work. Mix 1:1 isopropyl alcohol (w/wintergreen or citrus) with witch hazel and use for post-ride wipe off.
3) Make sure you have a key to your office in your ride wallet.
4) Small LED lights if necessary.
5) Money for the (local) coffee shop. Reward your commuting efforts with a scone and espresso.
6) iPod loaded with the latest episode of the 2 Johns.
June 4th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Another option is to only plan for the present day and carry a back pack- which is my preferred method. I have carried all kind of stuff, brick samples, 25#’s of drawings etc… I have no shower, so ride very easy to work, take some moist wipes for wiping myself down- and more importantly the crotch of the chamois. I didn’t do this originally and found I got saddle sores until I took this measure and made sure I kept my shorts turned inside out in an open air environment (hanging in a closet with the door slightly open). I also have a towel at work & some deodorant.
Things I have forgotten:
-underwear
-Wallet
-Key
-Belt
Things I have feared forgetting but have yet to:
-Shoes
-Pants
JK in NC
June 4th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Update for the test commute tomorrow…
While I remembered to pack clothes, I forgot to pack socks, so I will stick them in a jersey pocket tomorrow. I have everything else needed as far as clothes are concerned. Got a travel pack of baby wipes and stashed a shaving kit in my desk filled with deoderant, cologne, and hair goo. Riding to work with my coffee could make stopping at the local shop a bit difficult, might have to just drink the work brew, though a scone sounds like a good idea (still need some guidance as far as espresso, the one time I tried to order one at the local I was looked at like I was a poser so I felt like a coffee fred but I understand the latest ‘cast goes into detail).
I asked one of the IT girls if I could hang my shorts/jersey in the server room where few people go, she seemed cool with it.
Since I will be riding fairly easy to work, I am not going to count my morning commute as training miles but maybe as a recovery ride following a day of intervals.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Oh, and I am saving the Podcast for tomorrow’s commute.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
http://www.moderncrisis.com/bikenerd/photos/111605_iDeath/iWarn_Gwadzilla.jpg
June 7th, 2008 at 1:20 am
I’m trying really hard, but I can’t figure out how feeling becomes encumbered.
June 8th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
“Common Sense”
from the original “author”: http://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/2007/10/get-it-off-my-back.html
(and another post on the same: http://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/2007/10/missing-sense-common-sense.html)
“that said…
the real danger is the way that headphones takes a racer (or rider) out of the game
they are not aware of the approaching cyclist
they are not fully aware of their bike
a stick in the spokes… a skipping chain… a slowly leaking tire
so many things to listen to
the iPod prevents not only from listening to the world around you
the iPod prevents the cyclist from listening to their bike and their body
there needs to be a ban on headphones while racing bikes
it is common sense
but when people lack
that is when rules need to be established”