150: Ride till you Yak.

photo courtesy Brian Ellin

Before I start...if you have not taken a look. Go over to Cool Hunting and check out the little interview that I did with Brian Fitchner. Great people over that way, thanks for the props guys...

I thought there should be something really dramatic about the 15oth post of the year.

Would it be about the experience in the mud last weekend? Or the Thunderdome that Dylan and his Yakima crew erected in the middle of P.I.R.? Or how CD swung from said Thunderdome like a half naked Chimp throwing Marshmallows at people's heads?

Or Maybe it should be something product related... how nice the Edge Wheels handle in the Mud (seriously, those Cubus tires - the jam) or how the Edge Bar and Stem combo rattled the teeth in my tiny head (size small helmet) in a good way. Maybe how I just kept hitting the Ridley Cross bike and it just kept hitting back? So good, so functional, so great looking.

It could also be an analysis of the Single Speed Worlds. I mean, Brian (from Raliegh) and Virg (from Shimano) helped me, but I got a pretty kick ass little single speed going for this race. I only lasted about three laps and then I got a piece of someones skirt, or wig, or maybe it was the bacon handup (no joke) but either way I could not take any more of the circus act (I was bonking hard) so I just stopped. Somehow that seemed like an ok thing to do at that point...

Check out Brian's photos from the race. He shot them on his Yashika T5. And I officially want one of these now. So, if you feel like sending me a camera. I will put it to good use photographing people and hoping that they turn out this good. Seriously, I am ready, hand it over.

In the first photo is Ryan from the Veloshop. Seriously, I want to hug this man whenever I:
a) see him.
b) hear his shouts from across the course.
c) look at my bike.


My only question is this... what is going on behind these two beautiful ladies? Eyes up my man. Keep moving, nothing to see here...this is a married woman and her sexy (also taken) friend. I get why you might be doing what you are doing, but keep an eye out for the cameras. The nerve of some people. And you there in the Red. Why are you hugging yourself like that? It just looks weird. No one else is doing that...

In any case, look through his Flickr as there are some really great photos and captions there. My favorite is Dr. Dinosaur and the Seahorse Captain. Whatever that means. Go have a look. Then, when you are done looking there. Take a look at a couple other sites that B runs. Both Race.cx and The Cyclocross News.

And that, my friends was a pretty great little race day we had there. I did get some photos of the Thunderdome as they were putting the finishing touches on it. I know they are around here somewhere...

130: A little Video Action on a Monday.

1) Colin Reuter started with his seatcam video action last year (I think.) And it has been getting better and better. What is the secret to his success? Better cameras? Better Mounting Position? More fitness? (hehe) Either way, this latest installment is great.

I really enjoy the serious looks on the faces of the riders. Embrocation Cycling Journal racers Peter Rubijono and the PVB feature heavily at the start. They look great in their kits but I couldn't help having a giggle at the expense of PVB. Come on my man, you need to smile a little bit. You look almost scared. But, that being said, scared is exactly how I feel every time I line up for one of these "A" races. They're brutal.

2) Jen's Voigt races a guy on a track bike. Who wins? Found this one over at Tracko . Pretty awesome to see the man line up on some German television show. You can fast forward to 3:20 on the viewer, unless you speak German and have some inkling of what they are saying. I do not. But the 200m race is pretty spectacular.

129: Rapha Weekend, Oregon Manifest, and RGR

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.

128: What the Pros Do.

So, it should be known that I'm always on the quest for PRO. Is that not why we do this anyway?

I pester Molly Cameron about it all the time. What are you doing? How is your training going? Who is going to be the fastest this year? How can an average Joe like myself get to that next level?

These are just a few examples of the kinds of questions I have been known to ask.

So, I decided to ask Molly what she was doing on Saturday (small lie) to prepare for the first Cross Crusade Race on Sunday.

This was Molly's response:

I typically spend a few hours the evening before a big race in transcendental meditation. Connecting spiritually, as well as physically, with my machines and the pain I am about to experience the next day. This is followed by an olive oil bath, in the style of the ancient Romans.

After which I have 13 virgins scrape my body clean with small sticks they have found in the forest. While consuming my dinner (a tablespoon of lemon juice with a splash of tabasco), I'll intently study mixed martial arts videos for a couple hours, brush my teeth, then do 100 crunches before laying in bed. I'll call my coach (Adam Myerson) before I doze off and make sure my power is going to be good. Once he quells my pre-race nerves, I can rest. So yeah um, I've got a lot going on Saturday night, but I'll try to make it!

I guess one could say you heard it here first? But I am going to spend Saturday prepping for all of this. I was not aware that being a PRO was going to be this hard. Sigh. I guess they do have it hard, all the free bikes and electronic equipment must be justified.

Speaking of which, who's coming out to this?
See you soon.

126: All things Cross.

Sorry to say that I will be missing out on the festivities. Went to their event at Wheelworks last year and it was pretty crazy. People were buying raffle tickets as long as their arms. Longer even and coming away with some pretty sick prizes. Mo is one of the greats in New England Cycling (and she has a pretty kick ass mechanic too) so get out there and support their endeavor MM Racing. And Congrats to her on her win last weekend in VT. And one more point of interest: She is currently tied with Katie Compton for the most USAC Points. Niiice.


Mr. Joe Staples and I went out to P.I.R. to do some teaching on Monday night. We ended up teaching people how to dismount properly (have no fear, I will teach them the East Coast Step Through next time), how to keep your elbow in as you cross barriers, and we taught shouldering techniques as well. But before that happened we gave what one might call an Embrocation Session. This is where we explain what Embrocation is and how to fully utilize its magical capabilities.

Luckily for you Mike Davis from PDX Cross was there to capture the whole experience.

It got me to thinking though. I have already seen some great cross racing this year. In Vegas. Did I mention that I went to Vegas?

Cross Vegas is one of those rare bike races. Equal parts industry party, Mad Max desert romp, and lung busting Cyclocross racing (apparently something in the astroturf does the lung busting). So, I am always excited when I can get out and see the action. But, who is the first person that I see when I walk through those Pearly Cyclocross Gates? Well, none other than my good friend Dylan from Yakima. The same Dylan who has put together this little School of Cross.

He always talks about his Bike Vigilante friends. I'm thinking that this must be them. But, who knows really? I have certainly been wrong before.

As I was putting up these past few photos I actually received an email from Dylan inviting me over for dinner tomorrow night with his lovely girlfriend Erin (which is not one of those three girls in the top photo.) Am I still invited?

In any case, I had some cross racing to watch.

Molly was there. Killing it. Adam was there. Also Killing it, but maybe saving a little for the next night. Chris Jones came in second (what? it was dry) to Jamey Driscoll (what? he's from VT) and J. Page was in the mix as well.

I'm calling it right now. This is going to be both Molly Cameron and Jonathan Page's years, respectively. I'm just putting it out there. And I am really hoping that the MC decides to head back to Euro-land. I didn't get enough of P. Tachalet at Interbike...and he told me the good news. He finally got heat in his house, so this time when I come to stay I will not have to freeze my ass off all night.

124: Where to Start?

How to know your pro? Color photo in the Boston Herald. AND when they lay out the photo, the front wheel is literally bursting from the frame. AND we all know that Kyler knows how to look pro. Damn that shit is "tite!" Just sayin'.

INCOMING:
Here is what I've got coming up for you. I'll break them down in the order that they happened. Last week we left for Vegas in the middle of Monday. A week later and if I said that I was reeling from the week that just happened, I'd be lying. Reeling is putting it lightly.

You don't believe me? Check my Twitter. It was an amazing way to quickly document the show and now offers me a little fodder to go back through and check. Might actually be an interesting way to do some of the blog posts, just update the twitter post with a lengthier bloggy one. Then update the blog post with a magazine article and then eventually a book on the subject. And then in no time we will be flying. What they hell am I talking about?

LAST WEEK:

Monday
Left for Vegas, drove for what seemed to be days, but which was really just hours. Ate a whole bunch of crap and stayed at a hotel in Weed, California. Yes please. Kicked off a long train of unusually bad eating, which included: McDonalds (twice in one day), more soda than you can shake a stick at, various and sundry flavors of chips, gummi something-or-others, Taco Bell (are you getting sick yet?), a corndog, pastrami, more chips, Starbucks, salty liquorice... I'm just going to stop...

Tuesday
More driving. Lots of driving and lots of driving on very, very straight roads. Then a big lake and then some more driving on straight as hell roads. Through hell. And then, finally when you thought it couldn't get any better, we rolled into Vegas. Showered, drank a bunch of booze, at burritos (probably the best meal in Vegas) and then drank until I couldn't see or think straight.

Highlights: Junk Food, Traveling Companions, Hilarity Ensues,
Lowlights: See above (kidding, the companions were the best part)

Wednesday
Hit the show for a few hot minutes. Handed out some invites and then headed back to the Artisan Hotel to prep for the party action. Did that for a few hours before heading to Cross Vegas. Shot photos of Dylan with every attractive...um...person available. Interviewed a Belgian friend who was more than pissed at the lack of Beer stands, and then watched former (note I said former) bike racers schmooze it up for each other (ahem Cannings). Loaded a bunch of people into a pre-arranged bus and then headed back to the party. Saw some MASH folks and promptly lost my Pink Rapha Logo T-shirt to our buxom bartender GG. Great gal, but I kind of want my shirt back.

Highlights: Seeing old friends at the show, Cross Racing, Chris Distefano, Party Time, The Artisan Hotel, Jeremy Powers DJ Set, Andy Clark, people packing the shit out of the Artisan, absolutely anyone involved with Knog, Molly Racing (AND HER RIDER CARDS!!)

Lowlights: People hacking up Lungs from Dry Racing Conditions, Jeremy Powers being booted (by the management) off the wheels of steel after one song, not enough time with Kaiko and Mike, completely missing Rob Vandermark and B. Quirk,

Thursday
Show day, well, mostly. The hotel rooms in Vegas get unusually dark when the shades are drawn, throwing ones sense of time and place into a whirlwind of confusion. And making one sleep well past the time that normal people should sleep. Headed to the show a little late but got to see a few key people and talk about things like: Rapha, advertising, Embrocation article ideas (some really great stuff will come out of this). Then it was back to the hotel for a minute before piling into the trusty white whale and heading over to Mandalay Bay for some Crit Championship action.

Highlights: Hot new Embrocation Socks, Espresso at the Fizik Booth, Bike racing Adam Myerson style, Moots, Ridley, Asian Food (always drink hot tea and you can eat as much as you want and not feel full and gross), Hanging out with James Selman and Ben from Freeman Transport. Twitter action. Seeing Thayne Nord. Hanging out with Jason and Craig Roth made me feel like I was back in Boston.

Lowlights: Walking around all day eating Power Samples (powerbar, power gel, goo, electrolite goo, powerballs?), The George W. Busch photo in the Kenda Booth (not a great idea guys), a fake mud covered bike in the Kuota booth (not even a good idea guys)

Friday
To the show for a few quick meetings. I only say 'meetings' because then it sounds professional. Got to see the inside of the Oakley black cave of death, but only by peering in from the outside as Katarina Nash came stumbling out clutching 40 new pairs of Oakleys. Looks nice in there. Then it was drive time again, back to PDX, but not before a quick stop at In N Out Burger. So good. Before I left though had a great chat with Bob Roll on how much he likes Embrocation Cycling Journal, there's Video on that too. Then we headed back into the desert.

Highlights: Bob Roll, Steve Blick and the LOOK stickers. More espresso. Playing "Where's Waldo" with all of the Independent Fabrication Bikes (Whipperman, Cane Creek, the CO2 Inflaters, EDGE. Am I missing any?) Dan Sharp and I running around on the floor like madmen, the release action on the Time Road Pedals and the Time booth in general. Bern headphones. Military case sales at the side of the road.

Lowlights: Leaving the Artisan Hotel behind. So long. The booth with the leg rollers. Rushing. Chrome's boombox, looking towards another drive. Assy People.

Saturday
Drive Drive Drive Drive, Listen to music, Drive Drive Drive. Eat some candy. Drive Drive Drive. Laugh at some funny shit that Carey, Slate, Dan or Dave say. Drive Drive Drive. God its good to be back Best Homecoming ever. Steaks, drinks, fellowship, laughs..

Sunday
Wake up late and read the newspaper. Go straight to sports section and look for some cycling. Be disappointed with the above from NY Times. Then race some Cyclocross. "Oh, I wonder how that went?" you might be asking yourself. See above. Especially the parts where it says things like: driving, junk food, drinking, party, McDonalds....

"And on Monday we be at it again."

More later.

122: In Session.

Its kind of unclear how this really came about. I've been thinking back through how it all broke down. I think it went something like this.


Joe said he knew this guy at work who used to be a pro motocross racer (Thor). That's his bike above. Apparently those things go real fast off road. Not only that but someone was telling me recently (and this could be a fabrication of my mind, I'm not sure) that motocross racers (motocrossers?) are some of the fittest athletes around.

In any case I suggested we should try and moto-pace behind him on the dirt, with cross bikes. So, the Ira Ryan and Mr. Igleheart and a Raleigh SS shaped like a beer can made the trip out to some unknown location to give it a try.


Then Dylan said we should film it, and magically Dave showed up. I'm not going to lie, it did take a little bit of convincing on all parts. "But Guys, it will be AWESOME." I know that we must eschew your wife and his girlfriend for the evening, but I promise, its gonna be good." The light? Don't even worry about it, we've got light for days.


As Dan Action once said "I love when a plan comes together." We only had a few short minutes of light, so we just threw the bikes out of the van and went for it. But first we made sure that Dave was safely strapped to Thor's back. People, just so you know, these guys are professionals (not the Dusty Chimps in the lycra) the shooter and the driver. Do not try this at home (or if you do, at least document it).


Everything went off according to plan though. No one got hurt. At least not visibly. I realized that maybe, if you're riding 20 some odd miles per hour behind a dirtbike through a busted, rutted field that maybe you should back it off just a notch. Nah, I'm joking, turn that fucker up to eleven. Or in this case go full throttle.

Myles (GO SEE THIS SHOW) was just here and he said that he was worried that the film would turn people off to the School of Cross? Crazy Talk I say, we just needed to work out the kinks so that when we step into that arena (teaching that is) we would be ready to drop some knowledge. Trust me though when I say that we will drop that knowledge gently. Seriously. Can't wait to see everyone on Monday.

Now lets go race some cross shall we?

109: Speaking of Video.

Speaking of awesome videos, here's one I grabbed from Jesse LaLonde's site. That is actually him riding in the Vortex of Terror as well. Although he doesn't look that terrified.

What I think they should do (and this is only one man's opinion by the way) is fill the bottom of it with broken glass. Then get another rider in there, and they can both dip their gloves in broken glass (that's right Bloodsport style) and punch-i-size each others faces. All the while the spectators get to not only throw shit at them (not really shit, but stuff like, rocks and sticks) and bet on it.

That would be a Vortex of Terror.

Sorry, did I just go off there? And I'm having a good day.

In any case, Jesse is an awesome graphic designer as well as Professional Bicycle Sportsman. He designed JHK's new Captain America Suit as well as the Horse he rode in on. The other cool thing (apparently this guy is always doing cool things) he's done lately is be apart of the design collective that Trek likes to call Thing One. Jealous. But what is going to be Thing Two?

Jesse is also the man that was behind the Embrocation Lucador Shirt. So, he's kind of everywhere these days. Word on the street is that he's got bro's too. The kind that will gang up on you and kick your ass (metaphorically) in the parking lot (bike race.) Its not really 'word on the street' though, because I've raced against them a few times. Sigh. They kicked my ass in the WORS single speed division.

Good times people.

105: A Two, or Three Video Saturday.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Sport Report - Tour de France & Robotic Baseball
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Tasers

I don't have a TV. But if I did, I would be watching things like...The Colbert Report. One time, when I worked in the Television Production world. This was a long time ago, but I did a lot of Teleprompting. This basically involves using a mouse with a roller ball, or a just the plain old trackpad on your computer, loading a fancy program and then scrolling along with whomever happens to be on stage reading out-loud. I did this for people like Chris Matthews, John Kerry and his wife, Terri Gar and John Stewart. Stewart was the funniest. I think about this every time I see him. How he's funny. Indeed, I enjoy people who are funny.



This is the second video. Shot this video in Belgium last year.


Was thinking about this because last night saw the meeting of the minds. Met with local legends S. Hunter, M. Cameron, and B. Ellin to talk about the upcoming Cyclocross season here in Portland. Now, I don't know about you, but I feel like everyone has 'Cross on the brain all of a sudden. No? Check out the most recent post over at Race.cx as it talks about Brian's first Cross race. Pretty interesting to talk about how we all got into this sport. Good stuff.

Ok, lets make it three.



I saw this over at Molly's Blog. I dream of making video's this good. What is it going to take? Better equipment? Probably. I wonder out loud what this was shot with. It looks really good. But it begs the question: What to do? I want to race Cyclocross more than anything, but what then, do I do about covering the race scene this year?

I'm on a quest to find out the differences between the East and West Coast Cyclocross Scenes. Who know's what kind of craziness could come of it. Either way I saw a lifesized Billy Dee Williams at the Liquor Store just now. Thank you Colt 45 for bringing it back. And apparently Sheppard Fairey designed it. Weird? Weird.