There is a lot going on this weekend. But take a look at Tony Pereira's Oregon Manifest bike above. That shit is crazy. Seriously. I want one now. I will be heading down to the show in a few short moments to check out what the other builders have in store, but luckily T stopped by to show it off a little earlier. Damn that shit is hot. See more of the photos over at the Rapha Blog.
So, there is that, but there is also the Oregon Manifest Constructors Challenge Race presented by Rapha that is going on this weekend. Oregon Manifest kicked off last night with the Artcrank show down at the Cleaners next to the Ace Hotel. As per usual I was trying to cover the show from my Twitter account.
Pal of Embrocation Mr. Steve Francisco is also in town. He is racing a Parlee Carbon Jammy-Jam that is rigged up with a custom HED rear wheel. As I am driving the SAG wagon I will be twitting away and trying to snap a few photos at the same time. This is going to be a good weekend. I am putting my money on either Steve or David Wilcox who came also came out from the East Coast to come in first in the 77 mile course that Slate Olson put together. Although Tony Pereira who descends like a MoFo (there is a nice little gravel descent.)
Igleheart will also be on hand to race his bike at the event and then cheer me on as I crush it (or get crushed?) at the first Cross Crusade race out at Alpenrose. He mentioned that if he wasn't too too drunk he might try and race the Igleheart that he brought for the show in the Cyclocross race.
When I say that there is too much going on to get it all out there I really mean it. Check out the Rapha Gentleman's Race Recap on the Rapha site. Carey and Dave Christenson stayed up until the wee hours of the morning last night getting this together. I like all the photos that were taken from the Teams Disposable Cameras. What a nice touch. Mr. Joe Staples and I alternated between taking photos and carry the little bugger around with us.
BQ's write up on the Competitive Cyclist Blog was the best thing that I read today. What's New is one of these things that I follow on my "Google Reader." Although it isn't one of these write ups that lets you read everything through the reader, it makes you click out to get the whole story. Genius. I mean, that's the only way to get people to your website right? Let them see that there is something new lingering out there, hang it like a carrot, and then make them work for it.
Well, I work for it. It is one of the writings each week that I, in fact, savor reading. I open it up in my browser and then let it hang out and marinate there for the rest of the day. Maybe I'll dip in at lunch time, click through a few links and see what musings permeate through the day.
Today was exceptional. It starts off with an amazing quote from Jeremy Powers (who is now slated to make a guest appearance at a certain party next week) on how to pick up women in Belgium. I'm paraphrasing but he states that a Quickstep rider told him he has his soigneur place a photo of himself with his number on the back in his mussette and then throws it out to a pretty girl in the crowd. Amazing.
I'm just imagining one of these burly, smoking Belgian mafiosos getting ahold of that card and then having a perma-boner for Pozzato for the rest of his life. Afraid, yet excited at the same time that he has the man's number. Never using it. But smiling every time he watches Pippo come in second at Roubaix (which he will again next year) because he knows Pippo is doing it just for him. Maybe I should finally throw out that card of Johan Vansummerin that I wrestled out of his girlfriends angry hands?
RGR (Rapha Gentleman's Race) Gentleman's race was awesome. Can we do this every weekend? Actually we can't, because my legs would quite literally fall off of my body. This is the best time of riding that I've had in a long time. I think that Slate Olson has got it right when he comes up with the right mixture of distance, terrain and commeraderie. It just makes everyone happy. (Plus, I got him on camera saying that he just puts them on so that he doesn't have to actually race them.)
Sheild your eyes when you look at this link. They're bright and white. But the full results of the race are somewhere in there too. The gloves are awesome by the way.
Why don't we have a Cyclocross version of this? I know that in the U.K. they have the Three Peaks Race. Why do we not have one here in Portland?
My team? Also amazing. But more on that later. Dave Roth, the man behind the curtain for H.U.P. United was kind enough to let me utilize his GoPro cameras. So, that is exactly what I did. Went Pro. All one hundred and thirty eight miles of the race. Save it though, build it up because it will be good. Promise. Here is a little taste though.
Don't worry, you do not have to look at me for too long. The only thing that I couldn't figure out was which clamp I needed to tighten to get the camera to stop slipping. It wasn't good. I would be riding along, trying not to die and realize that the camera was pointing down. Some good (foot)age came from it though. (How boring would I be if I didn't crack myself up.)
Pretty sure that this guy got some good footage too. If you are new to this Blog (do new people find it?) he has been the driving force behind some great video stuff. Some of his new videos just went up on the Rapha Continental site last week actually. Check out the Wednesday Matinee. There is something like six new videos up there. All of them great. Rumor has it that he is going to be in the area for a little while. Should be good fun.
Also, one last note for the night. Whomever it was that commented last week on my overuse of the " ' " apostrophe. Thanks for that. I really do overuse it. However, one little comment like that and now I am (I'm) rechecking everything that I type to a point of obsession. Thank you I think it is a good thing.
Up next. Best fashion blog around (or only one I've looked at) from a 13 year old girl. No Joke.
Has anyone else realized that I like ping-pong? My father was in town a couple weeks ago and we got to play a few games down at a place called Ron Tom's. Whew. What a place. A man named Igor stepped in for a few too. Warning: If someone named Igor wants to play ping-pong with you, politely decline.
Someone asked me what I was taking on the RGR (Rapha Gentleman's Race) this weekend. The photo above is just an example. A base if you will. This was from my 100 miler a couple weeks ago with Ira. Now he's over in Norway or something Nordic and Cold being a male model for Rapha and Ira Ryan cycles. Ah, the life.
So, here is what we have above.
At least one extra tube. Tire Lever. Realized later that I had two sets. Which I'm ok with. Lezyne pump. Bite sized awesomeness. Smashed Ira Ryan cycling cap. It got too hot. Knog Porno Patch Kit Cliff Trash Camera in platic bag. I sweat a lot. Food (these slim packages of nuts work well) Keys. You never know when you might want to get back in your house.
Now this is what I took for a light, quick, hundred mile jaunt, and it wouldn't be too much different for the race this weekend. Although I might make a few adjustments to compensate for the fact that this one is a "race" and not a "ride." I put those in quotes because the first one was with Ira, so it tends to trend more toward the "race" end of things.
Additions: An extra water bottle. Definitely a peanut butter sandwich. (Learned this one from Pete Smith) iPod shuffle (pink) - one earbud only. looks pro. like race radio. Another Tube. Travel Size Embro Packets. They look like condiments and travel well. A Cue Sheet? One with the turns large enough to read. Go Pro Cameras (2). For documentation purposes only.
Might carry some of those little salt pills too. Or some powdered electrolytes in a baggie. That always comes in handy. I'm just going to play it by ear, or possibly wait till we catch up to the people who overstuffed their pockets and help them lighten their loads.
However curiously I'm not riding with the Rapha Continental guys. They've put together a pretty strong crew of dudes to represent that end of things. I've ridden with all of them except their mystery rider so I can safely say watch out for these guys. Dark Horse team much? James "Carp" Selman is leading the charge though. Gentleman first, Honorary Conti Rider second (but in no way less than first, excepting in the fact that its second.) Word on the street is that they pulled in a ringer from out of state as well?
I'll see if we can get a thought or two out of them on the way by.
Just another quick note on products and stuffing products. A big thank you to Lezyne for creating these products. Apparently (and I'm checking on this so bare with me) the guy who designed all these products used to be a designer/owner of Truvativ? Huh. Well, thanks for making something that is not only fashionable (fits in your pocket) but functional (it actually works).
Everyone has been asking me about the Gentleman's Race that is coming up this weekend. How have you been training? What's your top end lactic threshold? Tell me about Watts. Explain the Mystery that is Racing.
I can't do that for two reasons.
1) Road Racing is somewhat of a Secret and I'd have to put that satin bag on my head and modulate my voice.
2) One word. Experiential.
That is a word right?
The truth of the matter is this. I don't really know how to explain it to you aside from taking you out on a bicycle and riding around the hills and Dalles that are the Portland area (little joke). So, I did the next best thing. Research.
And who better to tell you about Gentlemanly Style Racing than the Badger himself. Evil Ryan told me about this book a couple days ago. Honestly I'd never heard or seen it before (ok, laugh, guffaw, get it out) but it is AMAZING. In fact, every page is filled with absolute awesomeness.
Plus it has some tips about bike racing too.
The back cover alone is filled with more information than I could ever hope to disseminate on these web based pages. But the one that sticks out for me there is "How to use your opponent to help you win." I read that chapter three times. It starts out like this... "Make sure that your opponent is on the same team as yourself, then you'll never lose." Hmm (another little joke?) Greg? Chime in when you get a chance.
Seriously good stuff in this book though. I got it for $10 on Amazon. Crazy place that Amazon. The Training and Technique section has a lot of good stuff too. Like, how to wear Look shorts and make your gloves look really beat up.
I'll be taking most of my cues from this one though. Nice and relaxed. One hundred and thirty eight miles of Relaxed. Sigh. Lucky for me I'm going to be testing out these beauties this weekend at the race... I'm thinking that the White Pro Team Mitts will match my Kit nicely. Wait, what? "J, you don't wear a white kit. Do you?" We'll see...
There's too much going on not to talk about it. So, had to come up with a schedule for it. Then, I thought, if I tell you about it, then I'll have to actually put it out there on the internets. Here are a few possible topics. And I only say possible because, well, really its "no holds barred" around here.
I have used some KNOG stickers to illustrate. And anytime you get to label photos "Smoke Better," "Slacks," and "Pregnant," take that chance. Take it and run with it. So, here is what I'm thinking for the week.
Monday: Rapha Gentleman's Race. What's going on here? Have you heard about this? It is the biggest new craze. We are racing as the Embrocation Media Team. Which means what? Well with our powers combined, we will work with you, the viewer to prove un-interupted coverage of the race. We're going to have to do this telepathically, so work with me here. But if you are up for it I am definitely up for it. See Washingmachinepost for team tactics. See [Insert name of other blog here?] for their own coverage of the race.
Monday Alternate: Cadel Evans? Really? I say yes, bring me some more crazy videos. I want some drama. Something exciting and daring. Remember when he headbutted the camera or held on to his little stuffed Lion. Amazing stuff here all compiled by PRO Cycling. However doesn't Cadel derserve a little something? I mean throw the guy a bone every once in a while guys. He tries hard. I mean, the look on his face alone. Attrition pie choked down with a chaser of sufferenzi especial. That's Italian for "riding your face off."
Monday Alternate Two: Where we can buy some rims like this. I want them for everyday consumption. Wouldn't these be great Cross Tubulars? Just think pure Billboard with me for a moment. I don't even know who made them and I want to have them. Sigh.
Tuesday: Interbike Who's going? Who's with me on this one? There has got to be some interesting stuff happening. Who's going to see Cippo (drunk) this year? Who's going to win best booth? Lightest Road bike on the market? Hot new bottom bracket setup? These are the things people care about right? In other news Bob Roll said that he's going to be there. But so is Simon Burney, Brendan Quirk, and Michael Robertson. So many people, so little time.
Tuesday Alternate: Cross Vegas. Who is going to win? There might be a few heavies hanging out before hand. Trebon, Johnson (in New Red Bull teamwear?) and probably a few other in sponsorship. Johnathan Page? Someone from the NW? Bring it.
Wednesday: School of Cross What is this, and how rad is it going to be? Cyclocross and Very. Those are the answers. Still trying to get Slate to teach the segment on how to Properly Tie and Silk Cravat. So many uses, so little time. However looking over the list of people who are set to teach. Shit, that makes me want to be a student all over again.
Wednesday Alternate: Pro Tip of the Week? Well, I did it for the others so I thought I'd do it here as well.
Thursday: Rapha Gentleman's Race Roundup. Why can't we stop talking about it? Because its a 135 miles. I'm thinking by this point we'll have some tactics ironed out to speak off. Where we're going to go on the attack. What gear inches each cassette cog means in the back. Possible embrocation choices based on forcasted weather. You know, useful stuff like that.
At that point it will be full on Gentlemanly behavior for the weekend.
