193: More Riding and Rouleur #16.

Did some more riding on Sunday which was fun. Just so that you know, when Joe says "easy" what that translates to is "probably not as easy as you might think." The light was crazy as well, maybe something to do with the moisture? Although, I profess, I am not much of a meteorologist. Or maybe, and this is probably closer to the truth. Maybe Saint Valentine was watching over us. Yeah, probably not that one either, since they are not even sure he is a Saint.

Big ups to Adrian and Steven who were 2nd and 3rd respectively this weekend. Oh and KV who was something like 12th in the Men's Pro field at the Cherry Pie Classic. Amazing. AO pulled off the second even though there were, and I quote him here: "A lot of antsy dudes trying to get away early." Way to hold on and then stick em at the end.

Also did some important reading this weekend that I really thought you should know about.

Rouleur #16

I think that the newest issue of Rouleur might be my favorite so far. Sure, I might be biased because I wrote a piece for the issue on last years Tour of California (which started on Valentines day none the less.) But that aside, everything about the issue is amazing. And I have not even finished reading the issue. Which means I will try not to gush, but if you get a chance to pick this one up do so (if for no other reason than they have been selling out - and one on ebay for $122.00).

In all seriousness. The Lichtenstein tribute that Richard Mitchelson does to the cover is the best break from the ordinary that R could have done. They handed it over to an artist. Rouleur has never done wrong by us with their wraparound covers and as soon as I saw this one I knew that Zed would be featured and my bossom grew with excitement. Can they do that?


The article that I read the other night was about the Shimano corporation. Part One anyway. Photos by Taz Darling are amazing to say the least. Which they normally are when you are dealing with Taz... Now, where normally we would see the broad expanse of what might be Flanders or a Queen Stage of the Tour de France is now replaced with the electric wires and steel girders. A golden mystical Tarrentino box opening to highlight their Shimano signage.

And the (almost) about face that Guy Andrews does in his introduction to Shimano is worth it alone. To think that someone could go from dyed in the wool Campag fan to — not only considering, but visiting and paying hommage to the legandary parts manufacturer is great. And at the same time instills a great confidence in me that at some point we really are all going to get along.

From there we move into Team Z (Zed) and I have yet to read this piece but it looks amazing especially the small touch of the "Z" everywhere. I have one of the Team Z bikes, was the first bike I really did a few races on. Stored away, ready for me to fall into that old school Dura Ace group. Also, it has an Italian BB which is odd.


The aforementioned Mitchelson illustrations. He does a great job with details. Notice the Sunglasses and the pony. And I'm not talking about a regular Pony here, I'm talking a Millar pony. Something that, as well with his Oakley choices has unfortunately gone the way of the Buffalo. Sorry guys.



Also, in one of the largest photo segments I have ever seen in Rouleur — Dan Sharp pays tribute to the Tour of California. I wrote the piece associated with it, but I do not know that anyone could pay tribute to a race as well as his photographs do. I was just a fly on the wall and Dan's photos represent much more than that perspective. Plus he got a cool shot of Tim Johnson climbing and Mancebo's winning day in the rain. The whole section looks good and is also sepperated from the other articles by its paper stock, which, I'm not going to lie gives me a 'paper stock boner' in the sense that I would just love to have these options. Just the option to use different paper stocks would be AMAZING....

(ps, I'm thinking that it might be Guy's secret little jab at American Cyclists that he always puts that ad - below - with the guy having plastic bags over his feet - next to us Americans. But we don't all wear plastic bags on our feet Guy. FYI.)


And the final installment is about another topic that I have no shame in loving - food. Pretty much one of the reasons that I like to ride my bike. Because I really, really like to eat. Willy Balmat is a Chef to the stars you might say. He is currently the Team Chef for Cervelo Test Team (hi guys) but has also done a stint with Mr. Armstrong and maybe a few other teams as well.

I am ashamed to say that I did not finish the article entirely before falling asleep with the book on my chest (how cute is that) but I will peruse and report back. And speaking of sleep.

161: A Few Things. Like a guessing game.

A. Go check out this show over at Superb tonight. Should be good. I am thinking that if Meighan has anything to do with it, and she does, then it is going to be awesome. And while you are there, take some snaps for me so that I feel like I was there too. If you would.

B. While you are roaming the interwebs, head over to Inventory and check out their Updates. You can see old pals Cole and Dave while they are traveling the world with new pal Shea. I can feel the ol bug of travel creeping up my spine as I sit here typing.


C. Keep an eye on the new Rouleur site as well. I wrote a piece for Guy Andrews that made it into their most recent issue. #15 I think it is. Dan Sharp is over there at the moment for the release of their photo annual in which a selection of his Giro photos made it. I am curious to see how that went down. Can't wait to see the new issue and the photo annual.

D. The find folks over at NYC Velo have been more than a little busy. They got together with Nau recently to help them put together their windown display for the opening of their Manhattan shop. What originally started as a "christmas tree made from bike parts" ended up looking like this. I love when a plan comes together. You can read all about it here.

Alright, that is about all I have for you. But I must say that tomorrow (Friday) is going to be a big day. We are doing our usual Friday morning ride but with a little Celebrity offering this time around. Tomorrow we will be joined by... should I make you guess?

I will give you two hints and they are both former teams that he rode for. The first winner in the comments section gets a...hmm how should we do this? A prize package put together by me containing something from the above post plus some Richard Sachs — Cross Fucking Rules Stickers...

Both Hints are Teams that he used to Race for:

1) CCB
2) Saturn Cycling

and...Go!

Remember, comments section.

114: JRA

Arkansas by John Brandon is a book about a "bunch of rootless drifters who form an unstable drug-distribution network..." Hmm, do they race bikes as well? Sounds familiar. Nah, I'm just kidding. I did however sit down and start reading it the other night. Ten pages in and I hit the snooze bar pretty hard.

Now, I love to read but I feel like my attention span + working on shit + riding early in the mornings has taken my read space down to zero. Ah well, the good news is that I've been reading a ton of magazines lately.

Take Bicycling for example. I read that. And can I just say that the current issue of Bicycling Magazine has some pretty good (and Bad) stuff in it? I'll list them here and then you can decide if you want to run your Petite Feet over to the newsstand to pick up a copy.



Things about Bicycling this month:

1) its feature cover story is helping me get lean (AND strong!)

2) a bitchin Cervelo ad with Thor on the first page (a weird/lame Pearl Izumi ad on the second page)

3) Sylvan Chavanel's "Favorite Things" like a Genuine Six Day Derny and (My Boogie Buddy whatever the hell that is?)

4) A Teddy Pendergrass Reference.


Bill Strickland's article "Bullfight" is probably the most entertaining article within the publication. Strickland has been following Armstrong around for god knows how long (since he's returned to the sport) and my guess is that generally the focus is on him (Armstrong) so the fact that he's chosen to focus more on Contador is a great decision. Why? Well, for one because I'm sick of hearing about Armstrong. And b) because (and this is why Strickland is great) because there is more humanity AND humility in Contador than there ever will be in Robocop,

And that's what I want to see. I want to see people! Not robots, unless they're robots hands.

Then I'm all in.

Also in the issue is a great photo spread by Rouleur Photographer Camille McMillan. And if you really want to know some more about that. You should check it out on the Rapha blog. Which I have been contributing to lately. While you're there you should check out the Design posts by Joe Hall, he's a fantastic writer and has a keen eye for design as well.


Can I just say that I can't wait to get my grubby little mits on the Rouleur #13 Box set? Of course I have every copy, that's not the issue here. The issue is that they have issued a new box for it. I'm in. Is that strange? That I want to get it just because it exhists AND is limited? . Don't worry, I'm not going to get it, I just want it. Especially because they only made thirteen of them.

I think I might have a problem

What I don't have a problem with by the way. And the REAL reason why I'm Stoked on the new Bicycling Magazine is this.

BAM!

And I'll say it again..Bam! Way to go Peter Smith. Do yourself a favor and get some Mad Alchemy for your bum. It helps remove the stutter out of your remount (you can use that one Pete).

Also, have you been wondering where the new Embrocation Cycling Journal is? Why it hasn't shipped yet? Well, to tell the truth, I've been wondering the same thing....what's going on here?