North American Handmade Bicycle Show(brian)

Today Fatty and I rolled up to Indy to check out the NAHB. Both of us were on missions. Mine was to meet up with Jeremy Dunn from the Rapha Continental project and Embrocation Magazine. Fatty has been given a rival groupo for his b'day and has the coolest mission of all. Go to the bike show, and find the frame of your dreams. He's an Indy Fab repeat customer so he had some serious bias there. We also wanted to hook up with friends from the village-web-dude, rollergirl, joan fromtheusgp, hauber and dulin(also know as dir sportif satan) and Drew from on your left cycles.
I could yammer on all day(as you know) but the pix are what you really want.

I have been droning on and on about the tubular wheels I'm working on. Here's an entire rack of goodness from the Chris King booth. Amazing stuff and really nice people, although I could probably say that about everyone we encountered. People really wanted to chat about their stuff, not in a salesy way, but just reveling in the communal glow of handbuilt creations



How about a speedvagen? Here you go. I so covet this bike it's scary. Sasha sold me a t-shirt, it's not the same but I liked pretending to be doing business with him. Gorgeous, gorgeous bikes. Check out the integrated seatmast, the sweet paint job, all the little details. You'll notice a lot of Edge wheels. We saw them on almost everything. Supposed to be the next big thing. Of course someone will comment that they've been a fan of edge wheels for years and now that they've gone commercial it's not the same. Well, sweet carbon wheels with Dugasts glued on? Sign me up for that ride. (and a good attorney)


What year is that? Oh, it says right there. Very nice. Damn I want one of these.


Here's Fatty getting the 411 on some sweet Italian steel from De Rosa, who still makes all their steel bikes by hand. This blue color was everywhere.




Fizik Saddles and Velocity Rims? All day long.




This is a titanium framed cross bike from October cycles



Check out the seat mast going from the bottom bracket all the way to the saddle. That's clean!! I don't know what was cooler, the bike or the racer girl that talked tech way over my head. There was a mixed media titanium and carbon fibre version of this bike as well, but pictures of that could cause riots in the streets.

And last but not certainly least is Richard Sachs' cross bike. Not "a" Richard Sachs' cross bike, but the man's personal ride. I will show this picture to the next and every pperson that tells me to wash my bike.


Check out Richard's wheels. This bike was stationed at the SRAM/Zipp booth. He's Richard Sachs. He can have anything he wants. His motto is ATMO or "At My Opinion". So what does this man have for hoops? He likes box section metal tubulars. I feel quite validated by my new soulmate RS. The guys at the SRAM booth were fairly cool about it(natch), they know the man and they know he likes what he likes. ATMO.

So did we accomplish our missions? I hooked up and talked with Mr Dunn. Any friend of Adam's is usually good peeps, no exception here.
As for Fatty? I don't think this made it easier. Too much glitter. Too many great options, none of which are wrong. By the end of the day we were glazed over by all the amazing artistry displayed in metal and paint and fabric and leather. Heads swirling we hopped back in the car and made our way home. I have to play ride captain tomorrow on a Rogue ride. as always we'll leave the park and then?????? left probably.

Teaser(brian)

Check back for pix and details and road stories as Fatty and I head to Indy for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. Hoping to hook up with web-dude, roller-girl, Jeremy from Embrocation mag and a few folks from the Rapha Continental.

More details on the Rapha Continental as well as a formal introduction to Rogue Racing Project(we're gonna have some car time)
Stay tuned. Same bat time, same bat channel

smoked(brian)

As I re-introduce running to the training program, Im going to have to find some balance. I want to run and I want to ride but multi-sporting leaves me for dead.
Yesterday I hauled my ass out of bed for the 6a 8mile run with some fast women(not in the exciting way. More in the getting my ass kicked way) and hung in w a quicker pace than I do alone. Thats why the group helps. I need the push. The stars lined up for the first time in a while were a short work day and decent weather got me outside for a ride w Schmeckle, the web-dude and the papist. 30 miles of following these boys with their jack-legs on was plenty for me. Its a good group and I am learning when web-dude is joking. When he asked me if I was a fan of battlestar gallactica, that was not an insult. He was looking for common ground. Live and learn. As roller-girl says "beer dont care what jersey you're wearing", more on that when Im not driving.

the restorative power of the trail(brian)

After attacking my liver competitively for 2 nights in a row, it was time to do something different. I have been really wanting to start trail running for a while, but have always managed to put up a mental roadblock. Need to ride, need to run from home etc.
Sunday morning I had plans to meet Seiler and Doug at Seneca to run trails and generally plot the rogueish takeover of the world. With a 9a start time, I even felt like we had a reasonable chance of getting Doug to run "out of doors" as they say. Of course, come the morning its 22 degrees and you know what that means. Dougs vulva will not grace the great outside if its under 60. I was impressed that he emailed to cancel but kind of hurt at the same time. Aren't we good enough friends that I know theres no way in hell he'll run if its chilly?
Indeed.
The run was great and I see myself doing a lot of this. I've really missed running and trying to fit cycling into some places that it doesn't while holding running at arms length wasn't working. Balancing both will be easier than committing to one. More options mean more opportunities. And running the trail network in Cherokee on a frozen morning was the reset I needed. Hopping the log jumps and learning the intricacies of the trail will make the spring mtb efforts that much easier as well. I hate feeling like a run is cheating on my bike. One thing has to serve the other.
As always, Seiler was a great partner for the endeavor. He's tough to keep up with, especially on an icy and somewhat unfamiliar trail. But that mandatory focus is what clears my head. We talked a lot about the "big announcement" coming later this week. I feel like I need to wait for a few folks to de-lurk and step into the light, because its not my place to out anybody. McCarthyism has no root here. Yet.
For now look for me to talk some trail running and NAHB update with pix of that and maybe something bigger this wknd.

Tweaking the Equipment pt 2(brian) Hitting the Skids

I couldn't leave the cross bike out, especially since the tubies are "in process". More on that later, this is all about stopping, to smell the roses or to avoid the oncoming car. I had run tektro brakes for the last 2 years with mixed results. This year I am going green with the frogglegs and swissstop green pads. They are very similar to the TRP's that I see everywhere, and the reviews have all been positive. I know what you are all thinking and you may quote Marcus in unison. Ready? 1,2,3 "you don't need brakes, they just slow you down"
Too true, but my gynecologist says I can keep slowing down until spring and then its HTFU time.



The North American Handmade Bicycle show is this Friday and there will be several of the usual rogues in attendance. Fatty and I are ditching work and meeting up with web-dude and the newly christened(sp? help me out here folks) roller-girl(who was not girled or even little girled at the usgp)
Look for the usual level of reporting from the event, hopefully some good pix. And if this is your news outlet? Well it's better than the local fishwrap.

Tweaking The Equipment(brian)

I feel bad disappointing all of you who thought this was going to be obscene. Well, it'll probably end up that way, but this is supposed to be a post about the change I made going from ergo bars to compact drops. Maybe it'll stay that way, I kind of doubt it. there's a lot going on, and I can only go into part of it now. So it sounds like I'm sandbagging for another post, but that's not like me.
It all started a few days ago when I was trying to get myself to spend more time in the drops. I just never felt like I had a comfortable reach to the levers. I went on www.competitivecyclist.com to do a little recon and found a great video review of the FSA Omega Compact drops. The primary benefit that the reviewer was going on about was the easier reach to the levers. I also noticed that it put him in a slightly more upright(pronounced comfortable) position while in the drops. Perfect. I got them onto the bike and even did a fairly decent job with the bar tape for a change.

I did a quick spin and really felt good about the change. The plan was to get a real test drive on Saturday with the Papist on a team ride. Of course my life intervened, moreso than planned. I had planned on mtg some friends from work who were coming in town for a seminar. 6 girls from the cath lab at hospital x, meeting Doug and I at Gerstle's for for tunes and a few drinks. Next thing I know, my friend Tommy(guitar player for this that and the other) is handing me his axe and I'm onstage playing a stones song that I don't really know. Oh yes the wheels were off now baby.
you see, this....is a bad start>>>>>>>>

Granted the domestic goddess/incredibly forgiving one and I had started out at a very civilized event celebrating a friend from the running group's 40th. Just a few coctails and then off to the bar. Mixing the brown water with diet coke for some caffeine to keep going was probably a bad idea. Starting evening vers.2.0 at 11pm was also not the grandest of ideas. After a restorative training meal at the Twig n Leaf somewhere near the 5a hour it was time to rest up for the training ride.
Actually I woke up around the time they left the park. Needing to sweat out some bourbon, I hit the road passing on Doug's offer for a spin class. I needed fresh air. I was still sore and my car smelled like ho's and eggs.
As I pulled into the park, I thought about turning off but chanced it and ran into the team, 3 hrs late for a training ride. It's probably victory enough that I showed, but felt like I was doing a bad Johnny Thunders impression on the bike.

I was going to use a way cooler picture but that's not how Johnny or I came off. I did get to ride for a few feet with the boys as they discussed race strategy. I traded bikes with the papist so that he could check out the bars, and duely impressed I left him to limp my hung over ass back to the chez.
That night we had several events to deal with, because for some odd reason every fundraiser in town was this weekend. So we had plans to go drinking and check writing- 2 good things that just don't go together. I had thought about hiring an old soviet block wrestling trainer to kick me in the crotchtal area over and over to simulate the feeling of giving away lots of money during a recession just to get ready, but hey we were blowing enough cash this weekend.
Instead we ended up spending the eve with some cool people....and writing checks. We had drinks with Paul Baldwin, an actual writer who allegedly reads this tripe. Why paul? why? Just because Seiler made you do the furly rides? You know some of us ride in the daytime! broad damn daylight!!
John from onyourleft cycles(or formerly, but thats how we all think of him) and his wife were working a booth so we got to have some fun hanging with them. Monica insists that he doesn't play well with others....and that's why we like him.
We finished the eve w Doug and his bride(no not ari he's the other one) and cyclist hating Ari at Jacks to pre-load for the morning trail run that was on the schedule. bourbon has carbs I looked it up.
Granted the morning was 22 degrees which cuts Doug out, but running trails has a redemptive quality thats a whole post in intself. Not a good one but you people have obviously set the bar pretty low to start with.
More on the trails and how bad I wanted to take my cross bike out there later, this is starting to rival the "myerson post incident" for length and I don't want to do that again.
more to come.

Swift Kid(brian)

Obviously I wasn't talking about me. One of my racing goals for the early spring is helping my oldest "kid A" to train for a 5k. It's not his first but he wants to improve his time, and I'm just glad to be faster than someone at something. Today we hit the loop at Seneca for a couple of miles. It's way more fun than it may look.
With a couple of weeks left, he's looking strong, and I'm getting workouts in during the furly morning hours so that we're both happy.
Race report to come, report card to come shortly after. What we've found is that running has the same positive effect for him as it does for me-clearing the brain and helping with focus. Funny how the brain chemistry works

Wisdom from Willie(brian)

“We create our own unhappiness. The purpose of suffering is to help us understand we are the ones who cause it.” said the man to your left.
After a couple of weeks spent doing more eating/beer drinking and less riding, I got out for a couple of decent rides this weekend. Both rides involved attempting to chase Fatty up hills. With a little less fitness and a lot more fatness this was really tough. Anytime I find myself off the back going up Covered Bridge road, I should hop off the bike, run into the nearest farmhouse and jump onto farmer brown's scale... and then let him shoot me like the salesman I am.
I did follow up each ride with a short run because I am pacing our friend cyclinghating Ari in the Mini Marathon. That's gotta count for something right?
Back on the training program with another hard ride albeit on the triangular torture machine, with the CTS Mountain Bike dvd, lots of intervals and simulated accelerations. Sounds familiar hmmm?
I'm with Willie, and I'm going to create some more suffering for myself so I can get back up to speed(literally), no excuses about ice storms and 16hr workdays and birthday drunk a thons for the domestic goddess/not old at all chick.
back to work. hi ho, hi ho.

Go 612, Go 612, Go 612

we are all pulling for Tallgirl in her first marathon. she is being sherpa'd by Seiler so if she can keep her hands off his neck and her feet on the ground it all good.
details to follow
Go 612

Sage Wisdom, From Someone Other Than Me Of Course(brian)

Judging from the reactions to my last few posts, I thought I'd go back to something a little more basic.  Many of you are aware that I'm unlikely to be the smartest person you meet today, unless you are going to spend the rest of your day with really stupid people(and I can't imagine that Mitch McConnell is making time for you in spite of his belief that the Republicans are the green party.  Dammit we're off track too soon)

I'm not spending the rest of my day splitting atoms in the back yard, so advice from me isn't worth that much.  However, I notice trends.  Specifically the connection between changing to tubular tires and performance gains.  that's our talk track for today boys and girls and I have colorful pictures and quotes from people who we would all listen to before me.

Last season, for example, I noticed Seiler(who won the series), Fatty(who finished well ahead of me), Duane/cat-down-king, and Mr Garner all switched to some sort of tubular wheel/tire or another. All had great races/finishes and recommended the switch. I had a few other purchases that prevented it, and had the nagging feeling that it wasn't time yet.

Curious, I thought, but what does a hack C racer stand to benefit?  

In the span of a few short weeks a flurry(sorry for the snow reference) of articles and conversations made me think this could be a good solution.  In the latest issue of CX Magazine, they featured "10 Questions with Adam Myerson"  

Q: You say that tubulars are critical for cross.  For a new racer who already has a set of clinchers, would you rather see him(her) pick up a set of box section tubular wheels rather than an aero clincher wheel as his race wheel?

A: I would unequivocally recommend a set of box section tubulars over any aero clincher.  The performance of tubular tires in cross cannot be matched by any clincher.  I raced at 20psi in a race yesterday in Belgium.  You can't do that on a clincher.

Interesting, but why?  I keep getting told that there is an improvement in traction, but that's hard for a guy like me to understand.  Of course, I'm a nudge and had to ask him again.

And regarding tubulars, you guys are "rich
>>>> masters." What's your problem?
>>>> Get some tubulars. It's something new you can obsess
>>>> over. You don't have to
>>>> get 10 sets of wheels, but one would be a good place to
>>>> start, and you can
>>>> use your clinchers for training and spares. The Challenge
>>>> Grifos work in
>>>> every condition, and you won't need a second mortgage
>>>> if you flat one.

from last weeks clusterfuck of a post. bygones

I do love to obsess, and I've got the restraining orders to prove it, don't I Chachi? But what is the benefit?  I also believe that riding cross is greatly helped by some MTB knowledge and have been slooooowly dipping my toe in that pond.   Of course, the most recent issue of Mountain Bike Action(which is not a porn title surprisingly) had a great article featuring the Geax Saguaro Tubular mountain bike tire, with great graphic and a picture of Katie Compton(did you know she's way hotter in person?)

MBA says: the secret is in the flex.  This Geax diagram shows how the curved profile and glued interface of a tubular rim allow the tire to deflect in a more natural manner while cornering.  This and the ultra flexible casing of the Saguaro tire act to boost traction and lower rolling resistance.

Now, this makes a lot of sense and the comment about lower rolling resistance really brings it home.  Anytime you can lower the coefficient of friction you increase speed with decreased effort.  That's for me!! I love less effort.  It's my thing.

Here's how the clincher looked, although the Russian Judge and I are deducting points for not using the same angle for a more straight comparo, but still.  Good stuff.

Even I can see what the difference is there for traction. The same issue of CX Magazine did a follow up article relating speed/lower rolling resistance to lower pressure. Give those boys credit they did a fairly scientific and un-biased test and showed a definite drop in rolling resistance with lower pressures down to 25 psi.

My last question was really answered by the test in CX. The conclusions state that the impact for a "wattage monster" would not be as great as that of an average C racer. "the newer, younger(excuse me?) and presumably slower riders(present) would see a bigger jump in performance from the lower rolling resistance of lowered pressure than a seasoned pro"

So we have better cornering and easier speed? sign me up. I've already shown these diagrams to the domestic goddess/CFO/love of my life and although she doesn't totally buy the science, she's supportive enough. So that's the next big upgrade, let me know what it did for you if you've made the change.
Now I'm obsessing about which rims and tires would make the best choice. Curse You Myerson!!! I hate it when he's right.

Kentucky Rallies After Ice Storm with CX, Waffles, Beer and Frites

Kentucky Rallies After Ice Storm with CX, Waffles, Beer and Frites

Posted using ShareThis

"Cross" Training (doug)

Working off of a 21 mile running weekend, I would typically just head to the NE Louisville YMCA for a 45 minute spinning class and a quick swim on Monday, but work and some other matters got in the way. Namely, my Blackberry crashed in the morning, so I couldn't get to the gym because I was trying to fix it, and I had already made plans to do a family walk/bike ride to the local Panera for dinner since the weather was going to be so nice. That left a very narrow window to get some exercise in, but it also opened an opportunity. It gave me a chance to test out my sweet invention, the "cx TT machine". OK, it's not an invention. It's probably more like the most pathetic bastardization of the sport of cycling of all time. It's taking my "cross-mutt" concept to new heights. But it works. Let me briefly (ha ha ha ha) defend myself. I love cyclocross, but we can only do it in the fall/winter. I love triathlons, but I can only do them in the spring summer. I LIKE road riding, but you need to have a bike at the ready, and it shouldn't have aero bars on it. So, as Tri-season approached, I got the nerve to get some aero bars for this season. I also like the geometry of my cx bike a little better for triathlon riding (seat forward). I'm also riding occasionally (see: Friday drafternoon rides) on the road with folks that don't take kindly to anyone with aero bars (rightfully so). It all leads to this:

Yep, I put the aero bars on the new KHS cross bike. So, how'd it work out? AWESOME! Now granted, I'm not racing it this way, but for a first time EVER on aero bars, it was perfect. I went 23 miles at a 17.5 mph clip, all alone, in a crazy wind, on cx tires, and had a ball! Potholes, bumpy roads, gravel, wicked cross wind (and a little head wind), and it all went fine. By the end of the trip, I took the final hills and turns in the aeros. It was just funny to me to get down in those aeros and see the cx knobbies (and eat the salty spray). I'm not sure I can justify keeping the cx gearing for the whole summer, but I know I can do the first few sprint tri's on the cx bike with road tires. Triathlons on a Cross Bike, huh? Doesn't quite fit the "road racing" mold, does it? I'll probably get to that topic soon enough, but until then (and hopefully after), I'm just looking forward to the next Friday Drafternoon.

OK, I'll save you from Brian (doug)

Well, it hasn't been 10 "brian" posts, so I might be messing up the ratio, but it's been 10 days and enough of B's posts to require an intervention for sure, especially after what we're just referring to as "the post" now. What was that e-mail exchange anyway? Yikes.

So, I've got things going on a roll now. I've been running and swimming like a fool, gadgets flying, and have been riding outside 3 times...YES, I said OUTSIDE, in the last week and a half. Much of the running and riding was done while dodging ice patches, as it took even the 50-60 degree weather over a week to melt all the crap around here. The iPOD shuffle, the new Garmin 305, the H2O Audio waterproof iPOD armband/headphones, and the index finger underwater lap timer have all lived up to billing. I had a great "recovery weekend" a weekend ago, with the first Friday "drafternoon" ride on Friday, the big "Chinese New Year"/Christon's pseudo b-day party at Brian and Christon's on Saturday, and then an easy 9 miles with a hangover on Sunday. This past week also went well, with some good short runs and some great spinning classes. I also added in some extra strength work to fill the gaps. I have stopped lap swimming while I've begun reading "Total Immersion". I figure I've got a good mile in me (at 45 minutes) at worst case, which is good enough for now, so I'm going to focus on this new T.I. technique, and see if it can help. I start the T.I. drills this week. Wish me luck.

By Friday of this past week, when the decent weather hit, I was glad to get back OUTSIDE on the bike for another outdoor Friday "drafternoon" ride. As I posted on facebook that day, it was a net calorie gain by the time the 80 minute coast was over and we finished the 6 Magic Hat #9's, but it's exactly what the proverbial doctor orders each Friday. These rides have become a big favorite of mine (after just 2). Both have been with really cool friends, at a great pace -- nobody really pushing it too hard, or at least when someone does (ahem, Steven), enough of us can't keep up that they (read: Steven and his Cat. 2 friend) have to slow and wait up for us -- and followed by good beer at Brian's house. Friday is typically set up to be a rest day for me anyway (according to the almighty Hal), so any sort of "medium" exertion is plenty, especially when followed by carb loading to excess. Really just to get out and do 80-90 mins at a reasonable pace (16-17 mph) with good friends is an ideal ride. The beer is a bonus (I'm lying).

So after the drafternoon ride was complete, we headed to the cx Championship replay party, which B has covered quite well, including a nice photo of my boy, diggin' on a Belgian waffle. Kyle didn't like the representation (b/c it didn't make him look "cool"), so I'll take this inappropriate segue to post a couple of photos that he said he'd rather have posted.

So, we get pretty lit up on Friday night, drinking the #9 leftovers and watching cx reruns. What next? I'm tired of typing and you've got to be tired of reading, so let me summarize quickly. 7 miles running Saturday (outside). Great night out Saturday night (Thai food and then live music at a local dive -- my daughter's pre-school teacher ROCKS! as the lead singer in a classic rock band) , then 14 miles running on Sunday (outdoor, hungover, 1:59:00), which went beautifully. As a side note, the new "toe socks" by Injinji are deserving of a post all of their own. They are AMAZING!

Tomorrow is a cross training day according to Hal (ATH), and if the weather is right, i'm going to give new meaning to the term "cross training".... no, not that Les.

It's All About The Pit Crew(brian)

This winter riding and all the snow melt has played havoc on the fleet.  The run off from the melting ice storm has made drafting a tasty drink and post ride clean up interesting to say the least.

Luckily as you can see, Half a bottle of simple green and 20-30 rags do a damn fine job.

 

Overheard-or File Under Really Random(brian)

This started out as a bad but funny idea. It may end up being as rewarding as a really boss keytar solo, but you do get to hear Adam call me by my “porn name” Rich Masters so……here it is.
This is a conversation that occurred between Mr Myerson and I over a week or so during a snow/ice storm and failures in motivation on both sides.  It gets tough to follow, look for the email addresses as to who's speaking.  Anything intelligent probably wasn't mine.



on 2/3/09 8:31 AM, bcsegal@yahoo.com at
>>>> bcsegal@yahoo.com
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> My thoughts on winter. Im so done with this
>>>> f'ing
>>>>>> snow.
>>>>>>> BS
>>>>>>> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>>>>>

>>>>> --- On Tue, 2/3/09, Adam Myerson
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> From: Adam Myerson
>>>>>> Subject: Re: f winter.jpg
>>>>>> To: "Brian Segal"
>>>>
>>>>>> Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 8:18 PM
>>>>>> Just keep checking the Portland, Maine weather,
>>>> think of my
>>>>>> girlfriend, and
>>>>>> keep it in perspective.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Actually, have you ever read her blog? There's
>>>> a reason
>>>>>> I don't link to it
>>>>>> from my blog. You probably need a pick me up:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Sorry folks, I felt guilty posting up Janice's blog address.  It reads really well but has a lot of personal info. As a judgement call I decided not to risk hurting someone for my own entertainment...for a change.   She is free to post the address in the comments section, an area most of you never visit.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>

>>>> on 2/3/09 6:55 PM, brian segal at bcsegal@yahoo.com wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I know, I know but we were declared a disaster by the
>>>> gov't and it was in no
>>>>> way related to Mitch McConnell.
>>>>> Other places know how to deal with snow. We just
>>>> admit that we're going to be
>>>>> completely fucked for a season and succumb to it. I
>>>> have no idea why. It's
>>>>> completely defeatist. Going against my love of
>>>> capitalism, even I have to
>>>>> question why we are bending over forward and backward
>>>> to build another
>>>>> monolithic building downtown instead of pouring the
>>>> dollars into
>>>>> infrastructure like sayyyyy burying the power lines.
>>>> I have a friend who has
>>>>> a million dollar house with the most ghetto power
>>>> lines you have ever seen.
>>>>> It's like that city wide, which is why last week
>>>> 250k people were without
>>>>> power in single digit weather.
>>>>> Rant over.
>>>>> I liked Janice's blog, and totally see why
>>>> that's not linked to the more
>>>>> corporate site. She's funny and writes quite
>>>> well. I don't think I could
>>>>> ever be that open and personal for just everyone to
>>>> see. I guess the tattoo
>>>>> thing is that way as well. It's on you and people
>>>> are going to look and make
>>>>> a judgement about a statement they really won't
>>>> likely understand.
>>>>> Can you tell it's been a shit week? bad weather
>>>> and work with almost no
>>>>> riding.
>>>>> You would have loved our social experiment/chinese new
>>>> year/christon's early
>>>>> birthday party. Worlds collided and it was fun to
>>>> gamble on the wallflowers
>>>>> and the odd conversations. I saw people who have
>>>> NOTHING in common having a
>>>>> blast together. example our friend Dulin(mtb racer,
>>>> trails lobbyist,
>>>>> Northeastern whacko with a million great stories
>>>> talking animatedly to Lori
>>>>> Beth from Mississippi(sorority girl, small town, getting
>>>> divorced) Contrast that with
>>>>> people who should be incredibly comfortable in my
>>>> house because they are there
>>>>> all the time sitting in a corner talking to each other
>>>> and no one else. It
>>>>> was the ultimate safe room and some people refuse to
>>>> be nice to people they
>>>>> don't know.
>>>>> and when they left we continued drinking for a very,
>>>> very long time. I needed
>>>>> to laugh really hard and enjoy people and found a way
>>>> to do so.
>>>>> What i really need is 2 to 3 day of really hard
>>>> can't go any further rides to
>>>>> clear my head. The closest Im going to get is a trail
>>>> run Thursday if it
>>>>> quits snowing.
>>>>> So no matter what you get, eventually you bitch.
>>>>> I really like the CX Magazine article and want more
>>>> from you about the high
>>>>> end clincher vs tubulars thing when you get time.
>>>> Does that makes sense for
>>>>> the guys like me that race hours(HOURS) before the
>>>> pros?
>>>>> Always looking for the edge. I have a few friends
>>>> that made the switch and
>>>>> saw a difference, so I do see the point.
>>>>> Thanks for the bright spot. I needed that. She seems
>>>> fantastic, and totally
>>>>> into you.
>>>>> Our friend Aaron is hosting a re-viewing of the cx
>>>> worlds at the shop Friday
>>>>> night. Our next chance for fun.
>>>>> Be Well.
>>>>> bs
>>> --- On Tue, 2/3/09, Adam Myerson wrote:
>>>
>>>> From: Adam Myerson
>>>> Subject: Re: f winter.jpg
>>>> To: "Brian Segal"
>>>> Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 9:04 PM
>>>> Hey, I'm 100% with you on the snow removal thing. I
>>>> agree that that's why
>>>> the situation you guys are in is serious. In Maine,
>>>> you'd all go to work the
>>>> next day, but they'd not only have been plowing all
>>>> night, they also have
>>>> trucks to actually move the snow off the side of the road
>>>> and into some lot
>>>> the dump it in. Infrastructure is everything, and I
>>>> don't think you guys
>>>> deserve any grief about being pussies or anything. I was
>>>> genuinely worried
>>>> about y'all and was relieved when I got online that day
>>>> and saw the blog
>>>> entries about having power and generally doing ok.
>>>>
>>>> And regarding tubulars, you guys are "rich
>>>> masters." What's your problem?
>>>> Get some tubulars. It's something new you can obsess
>>>> over. You don't have to
>>>> get 10 sets of wheels, but one would be a good place to
>>>> start, and you can
>>>> use your clinchers for training and spares. The Challenge
>>>> Grifos work in
>>>> every condition, and you won't need a second mortgage
>>>> if you flat one.
>> on 2/3/09 7:33 PM, brian segal at bcsegal@yahoo.com wrote:
>>
>>> ps- whn a woman laughs this hard at men dancing, a good night shall follow!!
>>> a
>>> couple of shots from the soiree that I didn't want to post> I didnt want any
>>> hurt feelings over the guest list.
>>> bs
>>>
>>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Adam Myerson
>>
>> Date: Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:27:31
>> To: Brian Segal
>> Cc: Brian Segal
>> Subject: Re: f winter.jpg
>>
>>
>> Dude, did you guys have a key party or what? Is that how it is in
>> Louisville?

> on 2/7/09 7:52 PM, bcsegal@yahoo.com at bcsegal@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>> Easy there swingtown, just a serious birthday throwdown for the little woman.
>> She didnt want an official birthday party so we had a Chinese New Years
>> party.
>> It got a little out of hand, but nothing crazy like that.
>> Im also finally getting back on the bike. Motivation has been tough to come
>> by, but maybe Im getting past it all.
>> Hows training out west?
>> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>>

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Adam Myerson
>
> Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2009 08:08:59
> To: Brian Segal
> Subject: Re: f winter.jpg
>
>
> Places like Louisville are exactly the environments where sexual deviance
> flourish. You should get on that.
>
> You don't really want to know how things are going out here. It will depress
> you. Although it's 50 and raining today if that makes you feel better. I
> already have 27 hours this week before today, my girlfriend will be here
> Friday
>
>
on 2/8/09 8:56 AM, bcsegal@yahoo.com at bcsegal@yahoo.com wrote:

> Don’t kid yourself, there's a lot of that kind of thing going on here. Usually
> its the very rich and very bored. They have everything and the only way to get
> a thrill is to push boundaries like that. They also have been given everything
> all their lives so they don't really value other people in the way others
> do.
It sounds really exciting until you think thru the marital consequences.
> For someone with an open relationship like yours with Janice, it seems to
> work. I don't know, maybe its different when you're married? The kid thing is
> where it gets really complicated.
Also, it looks like you get a pass when on
> the road? Im not judging. It works for you, you have a very cool relationship
> w someone that gets you. What else could you want there, besides more time
> together?
There's my analysis of things that I dont know anything about. Thats
> a lot like my job.
Ex. "Why yes Dr, I think thats an excellent strategy for
> this case. Will we be using (insert brand name)?"
Im sorry to hear about the
> house thing. That is scary shit. I have not known this many people in
> financial trouble or out of work in a long time if ever. We have been trying
> to squirrel away money here and there and find ways to protect ourselves. (Name remove to protect the semi-innocent)
> is looking for a new job because Company X keeps downsizing. 40 and out of work
> is tough because they can hire a 25 yr old for half what we need.
We
> re-financed the house and are going to open an equity line just in case. And
> that’s when I’m having a great start to the year.
One of these days, i want to
> strike out on my own and have my own company. Even if its just to look the
> corporate greedheads in the eye and wave the knife JW Booth fashion screaming
> Sic Siemper Tyrannus(such always with tyrants) as he ran from the Ford
> Theater. As I said, I'm off to a good year, and to continue the political
> theme- my current state is like what Nixon said "when you've got them by the
> balls, their hearts and minds will follow". In other words, if I'm bringing in
> the business, they have to love me at least a little more than they want
> to.
Sunday morning is always a little too quiet and reflective. The huge hours
> of training you're doing are like a "month of sundays". Too much time in your
> own head. You need Janice to get there soon so you can download all of this
> stuff in person. Or just have the right person next to you.
Granted for me
> this morning that means playing lego Indiana Jones w a 5 yr old. I hate it
> when he beats me.
Best
BS
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Adam Myerson
>
> Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2009 08:08:59
More later, but you should just post this straight to your blog in the
"overheard" category.

Time to go ride 6 hours in the rain... It's not all fun.

Okay, so that was really random, but seemed funny at the time.  Let's face it, I've done the impossible with this post-I've made you all yearn for one of Doug's posts.  Actual details of athletic accomplishments and training.   The occasional talk of upgrading equipment.  Ahhh the glory days of LTP.  Now you're stuck with the Oprahesque transcript of my stalking of professional cyclists.  I have plans for Landis. Oh I have plans(insert evil laugh here)

CX World Championship Party Wrap Up (brian)

As you can clearly see below, the good folks at the MTB Depot(Aaron and Mary) made sure we had everything we could want need or think of for a great party.  Fatty generously donated a ton of fine Belgian beer, even though he was unable to attend.  He was off doing the Lord's work opposing a ridiculous new tax on booze.  Fight on Fatty!! Fight on!

Below you can see our donation to the party, also somewhat courtesy of Fatty.  A keg of Magic Hat #9 left over from the domestic goddess/birthday girl's b-day party and a survivor of the Friday Drafternoon Ride(more on that later, this post is about a swinging CX party)

For ambience, Aaron and Mary served up Frites(although papa bobrow was the only one to touch the mayo) and they even served up freshly made Belgian Waffles.  That Roemer kid pictured below there's gonna spoil his appetite.  So with beverages at therapeutic levels and the carb/cholesterol levels peaked we sat down to watch some serious racing on the big screen.  You have to love a bike shop/trail shop/cafe that has a big screen and room for folks.  Well played sir.  The CX community was really well represented with most(Seiler? Seiler I can't see you!! Dammit where is that man) of the racing community coming in, including promoters like Joan from the USGP(who we love) and Rachel Fagerberg(sp?) who calls the races and doesn't say my name when I'm off the back....which is to say often. Families and racers and even Ari our cycling hating friend came in for the free beer.

It's hard to believe this many people would show up for a race that they

1. Know who won
2. Have studied every picture and detail of on CX Magazine and cycling news
3. Marks the end of cross for the year.

And yet there they were.  Look at the glazed look on Garners face.  That's not from the 1.5 beers he had, thats from the joy of being in the company of people who understand.  The others who get why you would jump off of a perfectly good bicycle.  Why you like to suffer so much.  Why racing in the mud is so much better than on a dry street.  We have an actual community here, and not a bad one.  Granted, with a room full of CX racers the keg took a beating as did the food.  It was as if these people had been put in a room where talking about tire pressures and tread patterns was going to be totally acceptable one last time until late summer swings around.

Maybe its Mrs Websters new hat?  Where else are you going to rock the Vanderkitten chapeau? (god I know Im getting an email for messing with the hat.  can you feel it coming? I can)

Okay, so he's a lightweight, but in this group that means he's going to have a good road season. Twisted souls stuck in a room with each other, waiting for the seasons to turn again.  There were some seriously fast folks in attendance.  People with names that resonate at least around these parts.  I figured if I can't hang with them in a race, I can definitely hold my own at the keg.  I may lose a race or 12, but I've never lost a party!

  If only my camera hadn't died before I could get a decent shot of Schmeckle's beard(no not the girlfriend. I think she's real. I mean the unabomber look he's working.)

Look at cyclist-hating Ari averting his eyes from the truth.  This was a damn good party, and even he knows that the racing and refreshments were top notch.  the Papist can hide behind his cup all he wants, we know he wasn't feeding beerverages to the junior racer next to him.

Thanks again to Aaron and Mary.  Now we need to see what the next event is going to be? TDF? maybe a MTB series?

hmmmmmmm, we'll have to see what liquid refreshments we can pair with that.

They finished the evening by raffling off a pair of tubular cx wheels.  Nice touch even though the "wheel winning websters" walked away with them.  These two win more free swag than anyone I know.  If their kid wins the Spring Series wheel raffle then the fix has been in all along.

Something to Drool Over Until the CX Worlds Party(brian)

Just a picture of Sven Nys hoopty to get the juices flowing and get everybody geared up for tomorrow night's CX World Championship Party at the Mtb Depot.
I know I just went from 6 to midnight!!! What? Too much info?
sorry

2009 Cyclocross World Championships Re-Broadcast At MTB Depot!!

And Now a quick note from Aaron the wrench,


This Friday evening at 7pm we will be showing the 2009 Cyclocross World Championships!

It will take place at Mountain Bike Depot & 'Cross Supply here in Louisville. We'll have adult beverages, frites, homemade waffles made by your's truly, and just some good fun. So come on down this Friday, watch the races, have some food, and get fired up about next 'Cross season.

Mountain Bike Depot will provide:
- Adult Beverages, and non-adult for that matter, but lets focus on the fact that we'll be providing high quality Euro brews!

- Frites, complete with cones, mayo or whatever topping you prefer.

LOVE THE PAIN t-shirts shamelessly on sale!!! Get you some. limited sizes available. Absolutely no warrantee exists for this product or the performance of its purveyors!!

- Belgian Waffles, homemade by me, Traditional, Whole Wheat, and Buckwheat will be available, with some goodies on top.

- The debut of Louisville's First Embrocation

We'll also have every single 'cross bike on sale for the event, as well as any 'cross accessory, including Challenge Tyres, TRP Brakes.

We're also going to have a raffle for a set of handbuilt Cyclocross Wheels built by me.

Its going to be a fun time, and everyone is welcome to attend, and there is NO COST to anyone. Folks are welcome to bring their favourite brew, or snacks, but the party is ABSOLUTELY FREE

We are located in the Westport Village, 1321 Herr Ln, Louisville, 40222. Any questions can be forwarded to mountainbikedepot@gmail.com, or at 502-423-0508.

Thanks, and I hope to see lots of folks there.

Aaron Hawkins