Podcast 06/03/08
new podcast June 3rd, 2008
MP3 audio format: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (219)
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I made a mistake on this one and it will not have listener feedback in it, we will record that in its own separate podisode. What this podcast does have is our round up of a Giro gone by and taken back to Spain, JK goes to school in a hot MTB race and a conversation with John Drake of Drakescoffee.com and Bikeworks, a fine shop in Sylvania, OH to talk about bikes, coffee & a shared obsessive behavior for both.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Very educational espresso discussion. Coincidentally I just used my Bialetti mocha java for the first time in years over the weekend and I think I agree with you. I have been considering a home espresso machine. I have always thought of espresso like Chinese food, it’s never as good when you make it at home. Recently have been reading about the new FrancisFrancis X7. If their capsule method is as good as the reviews say, is that a respectable home espresso machine or would I risk losing all credibility with espresso purists?
June 5th, 2008 at 4:42 am
You really should’ve explained ‘cornhole’ earlier in the conversation. I was beginning to ask questions.
June 8th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
John K — Are two bottles enough for a hot MTB race or would you have benefited from a camelbak, regardless of the lost style points? Were the guys that finished ahead of you sporting hydration packs? Glad to hear you recovered and punched it past one guy at the finish. Another good podcast, and another particularly good interview, JK.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Tex,
Two bottles would have been much better than the one I had. It was silliness to not have taken two. I will leave it at that.
Glad you like the coffee talk!
JK in NC
June 10th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Johns - thanks for following up to my espresso question with the interview. I now, however, find myself as lost as ever. I’m not going to buy a $2k machine. As a fellow cyclist and, thus, purveyor of all things quality, I also don’t want to drink bad coffee. So I’m at a loss. I thought I could be in business for something in the neighborhood of $500.
Regarding Chineese food - spend some time online - there are a few tricks that will have your home concoctions tasting just as good (well, better) as you find it in the restaurants. Sherry and corn starch are essential.
June 10th, 2008 at 11:39 am
So…Astana’s not the best team in the world? UCI rankings might suggest differently…
1. ASTANA 110
2. TEAM CSC 93
3. CAISSE D’EPARGNE 92
We’ll see how it shakes out the in the Dauphine Libere…
June 10th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Now I’m even more distraught than I was when I asked the question in the first place (but thanks for the coffee interview anyways). Two thousand dollars? Is this the same kind of response that I give to people when they ask me how much they will have to lay out to buy a decent motorcycle and I tell them that starting out with anything that isn’t a Ducati is a waste of their time?
Please Johns - decipher the interview for me! I was all geared up to shop the $500 range of espresso machines (quite a step up from the $75 steam machines), but now I’m wondering if it is even worth it.
Finally, I had the best cup of espresso of my life this past weekend. Mozart’s in Austin Texas, try it if you’re in town. Also stopped into Mellow Johnny’s (Lance’s new shop) while I was in town and rented a bike (A Madone - I felt like a tool but at least I can say that I was riding Lance Armstrong’s bike eh? And when I realized that, I felt like a tool twice over).
June 10th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I had to go back and listen to their comments again. JG admitted Astana’s absence would alter the outcome but that wouldn’t take away from the race. This year’s Tour is tarnished without Astana. Only a handful of the 180 or so racers can win. Astana has 3 riders capable of winning! They are the best stage racing team in the world and Contador would have been the overwhelming favorite. Are there riders on other teams that can win? Of course. Will we have a surprise winner? Without Astana and Evans having trouble with a training injury, maybe. Will I watch? Yes, but I wish Astana was there!
June 11th, 2008 at 6:48 am
WK:
2K is a lot of bean for an espresso machine, I agree. For my money, I am with you and would rather spend (and did) in the $500 range. BUT!!! please invest in a decent reduction gear burr grinder — about $150. Mangling the beans into various shapes and sizes with a blade-type grinder produces an inferior cup. My favorite site for all things coffee — http://www.wholelattelove.com. Get a nice tamper too.
-=-=-
Jim: I was wondering when/if someone would catch me on that Astana comment. You are correct. They are in fact leading the UCI points! But, the Tour will still be a great race without them.
June 11th, 2008 at 7:37 am
sorry for the double comment - I checked back mid afternoon and the first didnt’ show up.
I already have a sweet grinder setup, so I’m good to go there.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:42 am
I too am going to watch the tour - but with every stage I’m sure I’ll be wondering “What could have been…”
It certainly has left me with less fondness for the event though, knowing that the organizers can do whatever they wish with little regard for equal treatment. Somehow High-Road (ex T-Mobile), Rabobank, Cofidis are just fine to race despite their doping problems of last year. (and yes, Rabobank didn’t have doping, they just had the leader kicked out for not properly reporting his location to avoid testing). Some consistency would leave me with a better taste in my mouth…but this just stinks of politics and hubris. I wish I could watch the tour without supporting the tour organizers.
If only the riders had shown some solidarity against the ASO, it might have been different.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Also - those UCI points for Astana would be significantly higher if the Giro d’Italia was a UCI event this year. So they are even better than their first place results reflect…
June 12th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Jim,
Admitted, there are many inconsistencies to ASO’s actions, but it is such a tangled mess, that I believe is starting to get sorted. However, I would boil their actions down to the ASO losing faith in the riders, the sponsors, the federations and the UCI to straighten out the mess of doping & integrity in their sport- which ultimately effects events they own, operate and profit. The ASO is not free of blame in creating today’s situation, but currently, is doing what it thinks is right thing to restore credibility to their events. Sure politics and power struggle factor in to deciding whom to trust and whom to align with, but the ASO owns the races and are determined to control their fate. The most interesting race is one consisting of courageous humans, not infatigable robots. That’s one that I hope to see this July.
JK in NC