179: The Year in Review: Science and Nature.

SCIENCE AND NATURE

You thought I was done, didn't you?

Part One - Science

Bikes are science right? I mean combined with gravity what are they? Just two wheeled science. So to speak. You may have noticed that I worked out a little bit of a style with the some reviews of Adam, Mo, Molly, and Tim's cyclocross bikes. I kept trying to do this shot, but every time I would try to jump back and snap the photo, I would drop the bike and it was pissing people off.

So, I guess that just leaves mine.

FAVORITE CYCLOCROSS RIG (biased)
Embrocation Cycling Journal
Ridley X-Fire

There was still a bit of Grit on it when I took these. Maybe some Krugers farm mud? Cannot be certain, it all looks the same to me. A couple bottom brackets later and I guess I really did get some of the mud that I was lusting for early in the season.

I do not really know what to say about these bikes. I do not have too much experience on the ol plastico when it comes to Cross racing. But I do like it now. The previous years on the Igleheart had maybe softened (hardened?) me to the ways of the custom builder.

But I had so much damn fun on this bike not to mention it. That is the point of all this anyway right? To have fun on bikes. Bike fun.

I hate to really gush over these bikes (at least my own- even though it does kind of kick a little ass) but it sure does make me proud to be able to look through all these photos and see some other people having fun too.

I met Eric Goodson for the first time out in Bend, OR. See, he races for Embrocation, but joined after I had left the East Coast. Immediately upon meeting him I knew that what I, and now James, have put together in the way of a Racing Team is doing something right. Know why? Because he was a really nice guy. We spoke of racing and riding the Ridley bikes, but mostly we talked about the fact that he got to come across the country and hang out with his brother for Nationals.

Ok, whew. Getting a little verklempt there. Lets move on to prevent the tears from flowing. Actually, I take that back. If you are in the moment go for it. And then try, I implore you, try to not let loose with this viewership polarizing video that Stevil posted up the other day: All Hail the Black Market. Do not watch that if you are at work, unless you do not mind crying in front of your co-workers.

Now that you fully have that out of your system.

BEST CABLES AND HOUSING FOR MUD (Set)
Yokozuna Reaction

It only took me a year to get what I was asking for, but let me tell you it was worth it. These are so good that they do not even warrant a changing every weekend during cross. Seriously. I think that I used one set for two, or even three races. You think I'm joking, but that is ok too. Get some. And they look like something off of the Alien movie set. (Scott and Jeunet more than Cameron and Fincher).

BEST TEN-YEAR OLD PEDALS (White)
Time ATAC Alium

Would that make them best of the Century? Kidding. They might not actually be ten years old. But they might still be awesome. Ok, they are. Everyone seems to be going the way of the XTR, or maybe that is the way that they have been going all along, but that is the way that pedal sponsorship works in the pro's right? No matter what or who you are sponsored by shoes and pedals are the riders choice right? (I might have just made that up.)

I have been using the Time action for going on five years now. At first it was some Ritchey SPD's. I thought they were bad ass because they said Ritchey on them. And then I rode them in some mud. Not such a good idea. One of my fellow riders on the Harris Team (could have been Pete Rubi - probably was Dave Rose - could have been Jim W) mentioned that these were the best pedals for the mud. Have not looked back since.

TYRE OF THE YEAR
Tufo Cubus

These were the only tires (or tyres if you prefer) that I used all year. Maybe it was because they are so damn awesome. But maybe it was because they were affordable and stood up to the test of time. In every condition I had no complaints. And while I do like a nice soft Dugast to keep me warm on the weekends these tyres really did the trick. For the last couple of years it has been the Tufo Flexus, but this year it was time to change it up (because everyone seemed to be sold out.)

Moving on...

Part Two - Nature

Hmm. What to do for the nature end of things. People always tell me that the best way to get more viewers is (not what you think) to put cute things on the website. "What?" is usually my response to that. However, when I put up this video of our good friend Champer Dampers I got a good response. When I tweet cute pictures of cats and dogs, again, people respond.

BEST CAT VIDEO
"So Your Cat Wants a Massage?"
Found via: Everything is Terrible

But we all know that Nature is so much more than that. So much more than the domesticated cats and dogs that we all love. And I do love me some cats. For real. LOL Catz not so much. Iggy and Axel? So much. Those are some cats that I can get into. Here are some other shots of Nature that I took throughout the year. Nature Nurture.

SAN JOSE, CA

BELLA VISTA, AR

CAMBRIDGE, MA

TESSENDERLO, BE

HOOD RIVER, OR

PORTLAND, OR

SACRAMENTO, CA

INDIANAPOLIS, IN

BRUSSELS, BE

PARIS-ROUBAIX, FR

MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, GA

Onward and upward I say. Here is to nature. Shit all this travel (via photo searching) has made me thirsty.

098: Neighborhood Watch

I figured while I'm in the neighborhood I should really get to the bottom of this IF Embrocation bike. What does it look like up close? Can I touch it? I say things like 'awesome,' 'amazing,' and 'rad' way too much, so I'm sure there's something better to describe. In any case, stay tuned for a little more in depth interview with Clint Lunsford the head painter over there (who's also somewhat of my personal brother in arms as well.)

The Embrocation Moka Pot looks good wrapped around like this. The pattern works well. Check out the White inside of the fork.

I wonder what would happen if you unleashed our design team on a whole bike? I mean seriously, I'm sure that we could get our heads together and come up with something cool right?

You'd totally ride that. Who am I even talking to?


Speaking of the design team they have actually been cranking out some kits in the past few days.

And the place that I'm staying has cable television. And you know what that means? Nurse Jackie. A lot. Which I have to say is ok. The episode we watched last night included some of the a good amount of drugs, some screaming and yelling, more drugs, a payoff, and a leading lady that looks like a man.

Sound like anything else? (especially the leading lady part as I recently heard someone call Lance a "Dyke" no joke I laughed for about ten minutes, after which she explained herself and I kind of went...ooooh yeah).

Which we all know that Lance already won.

"I think...uh..I think, there might be something personal between those two teams."

This was Lance's quote when asked why they chased down Hincrapie. Weak. His response should have been "this is a bike race, that is what you do when you realize that one of your competitors is off for the leaders jersey."

Or Hincapie should have paid everyone off with Hincapie Jean's. Although as I typed that I figured out why he couldn't do that. Because the sizing of the jeans start at a 30 waist. Big mistake George, don't you know that the largest rider out there is going to get lost in a 26? Have you seen these guys George? Oh, wait, maybe you haven't because you've been too busy riding off the front?

Moving on.
As I was flying from Austin to Boston I saw in the in-flight magazine tucked into the back pocket of the seat in front of me that they had already published the winner of the 2009 Tour de France, and there he was in his new Whirlpool team kit on. I did a little google research on his new team and this is what I came up with.

Compare
Take a look at Mares Martin's bio. He's got some pretty interesting stuff going on there as well. He lists his favorite race as "none" and his interests as "all kinds of sports, hockey, movie, coffee." Ok, so no one ever claimed that professional athletes are all that interesting? But seriously..if this Cycling Team is your Marketing Plan, what are they doing for you Whirlpool? At least give me some shots of a bunch of dudes in a Whirlpool. I mean, they do make those right?


Now Contrast
Take a look over here in the Basketball arena. Contrast Mr. Martin with that of Ron Artest and his website. Really check out this website, its very space age and there are all sorts of interesting nuggets stored within (nay, on the front page) that will make you love Artest and his sensibilities. No matter how off they are.

For example:
He has a quote on the front page that says:
"As a lifelong fan of Michael Jackson I want to apologize to anyone I may have offended with the language I used in my Michael Jackson tribute..." Then directly underneath this quote are three things. His autograph and then two icons that say things like "Watch Video" and "Read More." Now I clicked on the "Read More" first and was I greeted with a treat. I thought it was going to have something to do with Michael, and I guess it kind of does, but ...no go. Check it out. Its about Dogs Balls. Not even joking.


The gang is back on the road and there is already some pretty sweet video to attest to the fact that they are having a great time and getting slogged by PVB on the gravel. I tried to hold back the tears when I watched this film, but, its ok, to cry. After all, this is emotional stuff.

ANGEL FIRE, NM from RAPHA on Vimeo.

Ok, I tend to get a little off topic when I'm talking about the tour de france, but my meanderings are just to cover up for my mis-steps. If you want some actual coverage and commentary that is really good. Check out the Pavé website. Aside from having been a DS, Whit Yost actually knows how to write about it too..

And then there's Here Come the Belgians.

Which is just plain awesome. So, check that out too...