Common and uncommon signs of spring's arrival

Viewed against a back drop of dirty dishes
My ruined trainer tire
I suffered a blowout while spinning this afternoon

As usual, my Sunday evening in the office notwithstanding, this was a great weekend, which confirmed something I already knew: I am so ready for spring, and I think spring is nearly ready for us -- it's in the air.

Even as snow flakes intermingled with with rain on Friday evening, temperatures were well above freezing, and, dare I say, it was almost comfortable out. On Friday, there was a spring scent on the air, the smell you get when rain hits a thawing ground, long frozen solid. The mixing and rising temperatures release dormant cells from their winter suspension, leaving them to begin the seasonal transition, signaled to the world by a loamy smells of earth wafting up into the air. It all hits your nose, even as the still-crisp air stings your lung -- as much as it's a smell, it's a feeling of spring.

I caught a whiff again tonight on my way home from work, and breathed in deep.

The first ride of the season, on an afternoon where, for the first time, it's warm enough to head out in just bibs and a short sleeve jersey always feels like slipping into a warm bath, as spring air rushes through your hair, under your jersey and across shaved thighs. It's a feeling I relish, and look forward to all winter. The smells of spring that I caught this weekend mean that it won't be too long before I can put away my trainer and rollers and the other accoutrement of indoor training once and for all, and I can't wait.

Apparently, my equipment can't wait either. Earlier today, while I was saddled up for a 3-hour torture session in the living room, my trainer tire, mounted to my trainer wheel (an old Mavic Open Pro that has an inch-long crack in the braking surface the renders it unfit for use outside), gave out on me.

I've heard of people getting flat tires on trainers, but this tire exploded with a report that nearly sent me out of my skin, and probably woke the downstairs neighbors from their mid-afternoon slumber. (I have no idea if my neighbors regularly sleep in the afternoon, but it made a nice sentence.) Worse still, I had come home to discover the trainer wheel was flat, and changed the tube only minutes prior to the blow out.

That I've lost two tubes to the trainer in one day is a clear indication to me that it must be time to take my riding where it belongs -- outside. It was certainly warm enough later today, unfortunately I was needed at work. Such is my life, and so it goes.

I'm now less than a week from my first race of the season, and will be heading down to the city on Saturday to race in the New York City Spring Series on Sunday morning. I've felt pretty good on the few group rides that I've been on, and I've stuck to Scott's program hoping for the best. I guess we'll see how I'm doing this weekend. For now, though, it's off to bed, where I'll continue to pine for spring in my dreams.

Unfortunately, it seems that my land lady did get the memo that spring is here, and has responded early by turning off the heat a little ahead of schedule. It may be March, but I can still see my breath in here.

The Giro d'Italia in DC? Why?!

Oh look, it's a Thursday post!

Let's get right to it: There's been a lot of talk recently about a proposed 2012 Washington D.C. start for the Giro d'Italia. I'm just going to come out and say that this is probably the worst idea I've ever heard.

Why? Well, it's pretty simple really, it's a fucking pain in the ass for the race organization, the athletes, the team organizations, the media, etc... While I will admit that it would be very cool for U.S. fans (if it happens, you know I'll be there), my primary concern is that by interrupting the first week of the season's first grand tour with a trans-oceanic transfer to continental Europe, riders will effectively be starting the meat of the three-week race already exhausted from jet lag. As an athlete, I can tell you that with such a transfer, you might as well as the racers to trade in their race bikes for a fleet of Dandy Horses, as there won't be too much exciting action to watch.

What's the alternative? Two rest days in a row and still no time for the athletes to adjust to the time difference? It's the Giro d'Italia. Start it in Switzerland or something, but don't pull a publicity stunt for the benefit of the fans -- the Giro can always be counted on to provide excitement to keep our attention, even if it does take place wholly on the other side of the ocean. Kindly, don't mess with a proven formula at the expense of the athletes.

Of course, a possible, subversive, subtext has just worked its way through my tea-addled cortex: With the Tour of California's publicly-held desire to become a fourth grand tour, and with it's move in 2010 from February to May, and with some major stars already choosing to forgo the Giro in favor of California, perhaps the Giro's organizers are plotting this publicity stunt as an overt signal to the American race that there can only be grand tour in May. Or maybe not, like I said, I'm pretty tired.

Tops from the week:
1) Writing about feeling awkward at the gym, my latest Embrocation essay.
2) Homemade granola bars.
3) Rest week. Only 10.5 hours on the schedule this week, it's been nice to sleep a bit!
4) Coming home to clean dishes!
5) NYC Velo -- The shop where I bought my bike, bent over backwards to ship me a new hanger last Friday, it arrived on Monday -- all when I couldn't get one directly from Scott. Thanks so much guys!

Bottoms from the week:
1) So much for winter, all I see is rain, and we all know that rain in February is completely worthless -- so it might as well snow.
2) Related to No. 1, snow ruining Wednesday's sectional schedule. At least I think we're back on track now.
3) Not riding much but still being hungry leaves me fearing my daily weigh-in -- no cause for alarm so far, though.
4) Forgetting to change my chain before it ruins the cassette.
5) So much to read, and so little time!

Granola bars, the hard way (but not that hard)

The finished product,
Before being cut into bars
The texture is solid, but slightly chewy

As I mentioned earlier this week, I undertook a new type of culinary challenge. While I think I'm an OK cook -- better with flavors than form or presentation -- for some reason making granola bars seemed like a different type of challenge from my usual kitchen-based adventures, and was therefore a little intimidating.

BUT, I eat a lot of granola bars; on the bike, at work, on the couch, in the car, etc..., and most store-bought granola bars seem to rely pretty heavily on corn syrup. So, when you combine the twin factors of lots of bad sugars and lots of money being spent on granola bars, I thought the home-made variety might offer a cheaper and healthier option. Incidentally, Jamie and Rachel had the same thought (actually, they had it first and inspired me). When their bars turned out delicious, I knew I had to attempt my own batch, using the same recipe (which I believe came from the kitchen of other friends, Chris and Rachel).

Anyhow, you can email me if you want the recipe, but here are the photos of making the bars:

Here are the ingredients, all laid out.
Everything except the brown rice syrup came from the grocery store
I bought enough bulk seeds & such for two batches

Crushed soy nuts are an important part of the equation
Here I am performing the crushing
A lot of the bulk in the granola bars comes from oats

Dry ingredients including the soy nuts and oats,
as well as pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, rice krispies, and sunflower seeds
all get heated in the oven, you need to stir frequently to avoid burning anything

This is the glue that will hold everything together:
Brown rice syrup, maple syrup, peanut butter, brown sugar, honey and olive oil
Smells delicious!

Here is the mixing of the dry ingredients
Heating the dry ingredients helps it absorb the "glue"
I was able to simmer the wet part, while this heated

Once everything is properly simmered and heated,
You mix the "glue" into the dry mixture along with craisins
You have to coat everything thoroughly!

The rest is simple, spread the mixture onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
Spread the mixture out evenly, and press it all together
The mixture is hot to work with, so I found that an oven mitt was helpful

There's the oven mitt. This will cool for a while when you're done
You don't want to touch the mixture, so use a layer of parchment paper on top as well as below
Also, a word to the wise: parchment paper is not the same as wax paper

During a clutch part of the procedure,
I spilled some Rice Krispies on the kitchen floor
They were subsequently crushed, and later photographed, prior to being swept up

Here's the finished product, after being cut into bar-shape!
Not counting time spent pouring over the recipe and time to cool (a couple hours), this took about 30 minutes
I think one batch will last me about a week, depending on how much my roommate eats!

On Embrocation: Weight training at the YMCA

In light of a real post, you should go read my latest effort on Embrocation. Here's the first two paragraphs, to entice you to read more:

"In college, we called them meatheads or jocks and avoided them easily by steering clear of the fitness center and business classes – or, if those avenues were impossible, we minimized interaction by making a bee line for the front row of class, the racquetball courts or lap pool, each haven guaranteed to be jock-free.

As an adult, I’ve mostly gotten over the need to assign pejorative labels to people whose interests are different from my own, but I still feel uncomfortable when confronted with a muscle-bound man or woman who bears the countenance of a person who could — and might like to — take me in one skillet-sized hand and crush me like a canned tomato headed for the sauce pan. Call it my own personal emphasis on the second half of fight-or-flight, or call it me being a bit of a pussy – either way, I won’t deny it."

Granola bars tomorrow, sorry Kyle.

Saratoga Lake, perfect rest day

If you've never watched curling, I suggest you take a look. I'm sitting here at my desk, waiting for some plates to come off the machine down in Troy (yes, again), and watching China slide against the U.S.

Actually, I have no idea if "slide" is the proper verb, but it seems to work well enough. The look of concentration on the curler's face as he or she aims, rotates, and releases the stone, all while sliding across the ice, is pretty remarkable. And thanks to the wonders of TV, we can see it all. I often wonder if my face ever looks that focused during races.

I'd say it's a sure bet, fortunately, I don't have to appear on TV very often.

My rest week got off to a good start today; after a trip to the YMCA -- which was oddly quiet -- I sent out for what will likely be my final ride before we get a whole bunch of crappy weather. If you were going for one last ride before being trainer-bound for the foreseeable future, where would you ride?

I was scheduled to ride only 90 minutes, to I headed to Saratoga Lake. This ride used to take me 1:45ish, back in the day. Today, I had to take a serpentine route home in order to reach the prescribed time for the day. The lake, which is frozen, was beautiful today, with hardly a breath of wind, and the sun shinning off the white surface. It was well above freezing so I didn't have to wear too many layers (by February standards, anyway), and I felt truly lucky to able to get out and enjoy the sun on my bike. Even the motorists seemed not to be bothered by my, I hardly got honked at!

The ride was certainly a highlight for the day. Today was a rest day, so no structure at all, which was also nice. Tomorrow I get back to work with a whole bunch of the worst kind of exercise, lactic threshold intervals. So, that should be fun.

Look for a new Embrocation essay tomorrow, unless James decides to hold it for a day, or if the powers that be decide that this one is also potentially damaging to the magazine's relationship with advertisers and pull it. I guess we'll see tomorrow.

As promised yesterday, I did make some delicious-looking granola bars. Look for a whole post on the granola bar-making process in the near future (like, tomorrow.) That's all for tonight, good night.

Olympic week of training

I'm just here in the office, practicing a ritual that is becoming a little too familiar -- waiting for the sports pages to clear the device in Troy that turns our digital files into a physical plate, to be mounted to the press.

We started using a new technology last week, which eliminates a few steps from the process of creating a plate, but the transition has been a bit bumpy, and my average time for leaving work has correspondingly slipped closer to midnight than I would prefer. So it goes.

Before I got to work earlier today, I wrapped up my biggest-ever week on the bike, putting in 20 hours, plus time lifting at the Y. I'm still standing (sort of), so Scott will have to try harder to kill me next time!

While this may not seem like much of a big week to some, it's a lot for me -- who has to balance training with full- and part-time jobs, and other things of lesser importance, like, you know, sleep.

I will say that 20 hours was feeling a little daunting on Monday, but I faithfully put rubber to road, rubber to roller, and rubber to trainer, and got through the week. A pair of 4.5 hour rides on Saturday and Sunday rounded things out for me, and I rolled home feeling pretty accomplished after a ride today with Mike-O and Scott.

Sunday's highlight? We saw a camel at the Ashville Gamefarm. Did you see a camel on your Sunday ride? Mike took a photo, look for it here in the near-future. The worst moment of the week would be loosing to Mike in the prestigious Northumberland town line sprint, where he was only able to beat me by sprinting into my line, and putting me nearly into the left-hand shoulder. Smart tactic -- good thing there was no ref to complain too!

On Saturday, I rode with Matt and the Albany crew, for a more-spirited ride on some roads with which I am completely unfamiliar. There were some pretty good climbs, and I was feeling pretty good on them, which I'm happy about. I was climbing about as well as a sack of potatoes toward the end of last season, so anything would be an improvement, but to actually be on track is even nicer.

Also, on Saturday I met a GBBM reader -- a Harvard alum who recently moved to East Greenbush, and whose name I forgot about two seconds after learning it. As is my custom anytime I randomly meet a reader who doesn't read out a sense of obligation because they're a friends of mine, they get a shout out. Here's a shout out to you, Harvard guy!

This is going to be a much shorter week on the bike, and I'm looking forward to the rest, and a chance to run some errands, and attempt to make my own granola bars. If the latter of these goes well, look for a post on the topic soon!

In other news, the Olympics are happening. I've been watching them at work, and have seen quite a few great sporting moments. I've always thought TV sports commentators are pretty funny in the awkward way in which they try to relate sports to the masses. The Olympics amplify this, as you often have people commentating on sports that they know little -- if anything -- about. The Times has a very interesting take on this phenomena.

The Times also took the words out of my mouth in publishing these pieces on people who visit the gym only for "resolution time" or "bikini time." Look for my take over at Embrocation Cycling Journal later this week.

Happy Monday!

Battenkill Pro Invitational in trouble

It's been out in the open for some time, but the Tour of the Battenkill lost GlobalFoundries as its title sponsor. When GlobalFoundries pulled out from the presenting sponsor position, the unfortunately took several other sponsors with them -- who had been brought on board on the premise of advertising with GlobalFoundries.

So, that leaves promoters about $50,000 behind budget on making the UCI 2.1 race scheduled for April 18 a reality. It takes a lot of money to make an event of that magnitude happen, and it won't happen, if additional sponsorship isn't secure in the next few weeks.

GlobalFoundries was initially brought on board the Battenkill race with help from the office U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. I'm hoping to get comment from his office on why GlobalFoundries -- who is building a major chip fabrication facility in Malta -- opted not to return for a second year.

Fortunately, none of this effects the April 10 pro-am race, the only one of the two races that I'll be able to participate in. For me and the 2,200 other racers expected for that event, this is good news.

Here's an email from promoter Dieter Drake to prospective sponsors:

Hello Folks,

I hope all is well. As a current or prospective sponsor, we wanted to provide to you an update as to our progress for the 2010 Tour of the Battenkill. We need your help for the event to be a success! Unfortunately, due to the recent loss of our Presenting Sponsor from 2009, we are currently behind in our sponsorship drive. The loss of this particular sponsor has had a major impact on our efforts to reach our goals for 2010 as several prospective sponsors with a strong interest in advertising with / supporting the event in association with this sponsor have since declined their support. Nevertheless, we have worked very hard to solicit replacements but the current economic climate has made it difficult to open doors with potential sponsors at all levels, especially at this late date. We are asking you to consider contacting us with your commitment of support or contacting a potential sponsor that could be interested in supporting the event. We have set a date of March 1, 2010 as the deadline for reaching our goals. After this we will be faced with the cancellation of the UCI Professional event for which we have worked very to secure a date on the 2010 America’s Tour Professional Calendar.

Contact info is below. We will be providing periodic updates as we get closer to making the 2010 event possible in its entirety.

Event details: www.tourofthebattenkill.com

• Largest sanctioned road cycling race in the USA world!- 1700 registrants in 2009 for the Pro/Am, 2200+ expected in 2010
• 2M+ hits on the website annual
• Pro Invitational now on the UCI international professional calendar - one of only 6 races selected in the USA
• Ride2Recovery event to benefit disabled veterans - www.ride2recovery.com
• 35 States and 8 countries represented currently.
• Professional teams committed from North America, Australia, and Europe for 2010.
• An estimated 40-50k spectators over the course of the event weekend in 2009
• All the press releases and some relevant links to publications can be found here http://www.tourofthebattenkill.com/Press.html
• The July, 2009 issue of ROAD magazine featured the event - http://www.visitbattenkillvalley.com/NewFiles/ROADmag-battenkill.pdf
• Bicycling Magazine featuring the race in their current (Jan/Feb) issue.
• Expecting more than 75,000 racers and spectators in 2010 over the event weekends

2010 Dates:

Saturday, April 10 - Tour of the Battenkill Pro/Am event

Saturday, April 17 - Ride2Recovery CycleFest to benefit Wounded & Disabled Veterans (non-competitive) - www.ride2recovery.com

Sunday, April 18 - Tour of the Battenkill Professional Invitational (UCI 1.2 America's Tour)

Sponsor opportunities:

· Event expo both weekends

· Site branding

· Media buys – print, radio, video

· VIP & hospitality

· Direct marketing

· Website links

· More!

New year, new license

With only a little more than two (!!) weeks until my first race of 2010, I finally got around to renewing my racing license mere moments ago. So, I guess that makes it official, I will be a member of the Kraft Genie Cycling club, Champion System Racing sub-team! Woo hoo!

In addition, I received from team management today a copy of our roster for 2010. Looks like I'll be one of nine members of the elite team. The team also boasts 10 club/support riders, so there should be lots of orange in the peloton this year.

As in years past, Champion System is the title sponsor, with co-sponsor Cycles Gladiator. Both companies are awesome, you should turn to them for all of your custom athletic apparel and wine needs!

Other sponsors include:
DrinkUpForLess.com (noticing the wine theme?)
Tifosi Innovative Eyewear
James Vincent Bicycles, North Bergen, NJ
Boulevard Five 72 restaurant, Kenilworth NJ
Henry's restaurant, New York City
Libby Fund
Giro Helmets

So that's all great! I cant wait to meet my new team mates, and to finally see how all this training will translate to the road.

What's not so great is that I didn't leave work until 12:30 tonight, after there were some hold-ups with our new direct-to-plate production process. It's working, but not smoothly, I suppose. So, you'll forgive me if I cut this a little short, and head to bed. I'm tired.

Crazy travel schedules, and more awards

So, lost in the shuffle of this past weekend's many activities (can I take just a moment to point out that I spent 16 hours traveling to and from Florida, while spending only 13.5 hours with my family), I won a piece of an award from the Suburban Newspapers of America's 2009 Editorial Contest.

For the category "Local Election Coverage," we submitted a compilations of articles and blog posts written by me, as well as blog entries posted live on election night by Web Editor Stephen Shoemaker -- all relating to the March 2009 special election that saw Scott Murphy elected to Congress. Competing in the category for newspapers with circulation under 25,000, we took home the third-place prize.

Not to shabby, I think. Of course, now that I'm a sports writer, I'll be bucking for a different set of categories in next year's contest. So, that was exciting.

Winning a slightly more dubious award is Bikin' Dirty Floyd Landis, who is apparently wanted in France, for attempting to steal electronic records from a laboratory in France in relation to his faux win at the 2006 Tour de France. You couldn't make shit like that up.

Not too much else doing here at the moment.

I climbed Lake D for the first time this year earlier today, and found that my legs felt fairly horrible after going for a run with Eric on Saturday. At first I was a bit panicked about how slow the climb went, but I took solace in remember how easily I'd out-climbed Mike a couple weeks ago. As soon as I spin the the run out of my legs I'm sure I'll be back on my way toward flying form.

Besides making the mistake of running, just before riding this morning I hit the YMCA. Long story short; I don't think the Scott Cole-mandated weight routine is helping anything in the short term. I suppose we're looking for some kind of long-term benefit. It's going to snow tomorrow, so it looks like I'll be indoors for a few days. So it goes. Worse still, I am not in the least excited about the movies I selected for myself on Netflix. They all look to be good films, but not exactly trainer material. Looks like an early morning trip to the library for me.

I think that's all I'm going to write tonight -- there's a pile of laundry that needs folding before I can get into bed.

Live from Tampa: Charolotte's 90th

The matriarch and her living family tree
We don't all get together often,
but it's always fun when we do

It's not everyday that you can wrangle together 18 family members, across four generations. Happily, yesterday was a day on which that happened for my family. To celebrate Grandma Charlotte Bernstein's 90th birthday, her sons (my Dad and Uncle David), along with their wives, children, and grandchildren (there are six grand kids on David's side -- and the family is taking bets on whether or not my brother or I will ever procreate) got together in Florida.

It was a bit of a crazy trip for me -- I flew down early Saturday morning, spent some time standing in line at the car rental agency, went for a run with my brother, went to the party, slept for a bit, and am now in transit back home. But, I wouldn't have missed this family gathering for anything.

Aside from being a wonderful celebration for grandma, it was a rare chance for Eric and I to spend some time with our cousins on Dad's side, who are a really fun bunch who we don't see often enough.

Anyway, enough of my babble, here are some photos:

At 90, looking good for a 70-year-old!
Grandma told us the story of the day of her birth,
which, apparently, involved Great-Grandpa Abe going out to get the doctor in a snow storm, and returning home without the doctor, to find that he had a daughter.

Uncle David offered a toast
Aunt Ellen is sitting immediately to his right
Sorry about the chair in the foreground

Here's Dad offering a toast
He went on a little long, but it was a wonderful speech
However, no one seems to recall grandma ever playing the piano

Mom and Grandma
This would have been a great photo,
If Grandma's Sam Adam's hadn't got in the frame

Roomies:
Robin is Grandma's live-in caregiver
Many of Grandma's adopted family also joined us for the celebration

It's always good to see Eric
Although, I could have done without his constant efforts to "fatten me up."
For all his talk, he's got pretty big eyebrows

The cake was too small for 90+1 candles
But you're never too old for cake
I don't think anyone could ask for more than to be able to make a birthday wish at 90

Leon is one of Robin's sons, who graciously offered a toast,
Thanking Grandma for being a surrogate member of his family
We are all grateful that Grandma has been included in events with Robin's family

I wasn't planning on it, but Eric compelled me to make a toast
I told a story about when Grandma dragged Grandpa to a concert --
A Ricky Martin concert -- music she still enjoys
Looks like I was boring cousin Sharon

Eric makes his own toast,
Telling us that grandma was the only one in the family who would break the Passover bread fast to quell his childhood angst
-- with Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Cousin Debbie represented David's side
Telling us how much she used to enjoy grandma's back rubs
-- to which she was immediately treated

Mom still insists that I was not adopted,
but it's hard to see where my physical traits come from
I hope we're all together again soon

Grandma with her boys
Dad is squinting because he's removed his glasses
So, forgive the crow's feet

Something I try to do when I travel is document the traveling portion of the trip with some photos. I didn't do the best job this time around, but here are a few shots, to give you a flavor. Of course, I'm currently waiting for a connection in Tampa, so there's still a chance that I'll get stranded here or somewhere else, and have the chance to take more photos (but I'm hoping not -- it is Valentine's Day, after all, and I can think of better things to do than hang out at airports.)

The first thing I did upon arriving in Florida, was to exchange my shoes for sandals.
It was rather chilly -- by Florida -- standards,
but sandal wearing is not negotiable for me once below the Mason-Dixon line.

I rented this Kia Forte to drive myself to and from the airport
It was a fine car -- except that the pick up was really slow
and the site lines were horrible

Here's Mom checking out her sons in the mirror
on the way to Grandma's party
Or maybe she's applying makeup, hard to say

This is what it looks like when I was getting into another rental car
on the way to the party
photo courtesy of Eric

The view from the parking garage at the airport
Like I said, I didn't do a great job of taking photos
So that's that -- now back to the waiting game

Good news, Bad news, and a banned essay

Good news first, I was finally able to throw a little money at my airline problem, and I will now not be faced with a month in Florida -- and I thank my lucky stars for that! Of course, I didn't manage to get this done before throwing my phone across the room in a fit of frustration. It happens.

Bad news, it seems my latest essay on Embrocation ruffled some feathers (or, the powers that be were afraid that it might), and as such, it was pulled from the website after only a brief online appearance.

Fortunately for you and I, the Embrocation powers that be do not run this blog, so I'm simply going to post the essay here, for your reading enjoyment. In an ironic twist of fate, Embrocation publisher and webmaster, James Morrison, who is a good friend of mine, as well as a fellow Empire State Game champion, cyclist competing in many of the same events, and all-around good guy, happens to be staying on my futon at the moment.

And yes, it was James who made the decision to kill the essay. I'm not going to hold it against him -- he has a business to run, and I have a history of pissing off advertisers. But I do believe in what I wrote, and I'd like to share it with you. Incidentally, James wasn't supposed to be sleeping on my futon, at least not tonight, but he's been stranded by the massive snow storm that's burying huge swathes of the country, but going out of its way to avoid anyone who might actually want it -- such as those of us in the north country. It seems that winter has gone south for the winter.

Anyhow, it was banned from the magazine, but presented here for your reading pleasure:

Bicycle "technology" and you

I’m going to hit you with some jargon.

FACT, IMP, R-Flow, OCLV, OCLV2, TCC, Smartwall, S.A.V.E., Megadrive, HSG, H-Net, Force Optimized Construction.

Recognize any of that?

Chances are, if you ride a mass-produced racing bike purchased in the last five years, you’ve got one of those acronyms, or a similar one, tattooed somewhere on your ride. Got carbon-soled shoes? You can probably find some acronyms there too.

Ever wonder what those things mean? Here’s the answer: Not a damn thing.

Sure, if you make a habit of studying the glossy marketing catalogues put out by bicycles companies and proudly displayed at bike shops you’ll probably be able to find whatever contrived acronyms the manufacturers have come up with to create hyperbolic marketing slogans, which are then pasted all over their cookie-cutter bicycles.

Listen, it’s not that I don’t love modern bikes. I really do, believe me. If I didn’t, I’d feel awfully foolish for owning as many bikes as I do.

It’s just that I hate seeing bicycle consumers getting bogged down in all the marketing, because the bottom line is that the latest carbon-fiber wonder bike produced by a premium brand is created by an identical process to the bargain-brand bike sold through online retailers. The only difference? Your Scattantte has got fewer acronyms, and therefore a smaller corporate team associated with its marketing, and therefore a smaller price tag. Plus, Performance hasn’t yet got a team in the Tour de France, and we all know how much that costs.

So, am I going to ditch my up-market Scott (NEXT, IMP, etc…) for a no-brand steed? No, I’m getting a Cannondale (SI, Hollowgram, etc…), but that has more to do with a sponsor affiliation than anything else. Besides, my Cannondale can be fairly easily slotted into the “workhorse” category, with relatively little marketing bull shit attached to it, at least when compared so some of the higher-tech rides out there.

I’ve been telling myself that by racing in 2010 on low-frills, all-aluminum bike, while the spin-meisters are pushing carbon brings me a little above the marketing: I’m riding a bike designed and sold for a specific function: being a light, stiff race platform. It doesn’t need a lot of jargon to get there, and the marketers know that the people who want a bike like that don’t need lots of acronyms to convince them that it’s the right ride for them.

But the sad thing is that the typical bike consumer probably does need such slogans to help them differentiate a Trek from a Specialized from a Felt, etc… But why? Aren’t ride characteristics a much more important measure to consider when looking at these bikes?

Well, despite what certain cyclists may try to say over at the Serotta forum, most casual cyclists – which is to say, most of your run-of-the-mill bicycle consumers – wouldn’t know a Serotta from a Scattante is they were to ride the two bikes blindfolded. Hell, I don’t think I’d be able to tell the difference either, and I ride a lot.

It’s OK. You should still pick out the bike that makes you feel good riding, even if that premium-brand label on the down tube is doing nothing but adding $1,000 to the price tag on a similarly-equipped no-brand bike that was produced on the same assembly line. If cyclists are to take one lesson from the recent (and silly) legal wrangling surrounding the 33rd America’s Cup, it is that you cannot put a price on speed. Even though all those labels and acronyms don’t actually cause a physical change to make you go faster, if you feel faster, you probably are.

But if I see you, I’ll expect a full recitation on the meaning of all those acronyms, including the “science” behind them.

A longer trip to Florida?

I was just reading this article on speed skating in the NY Times. In many ways, the sport of speed skating sounds reminiscent of aspiring pro cyclists, except that there doesn't seem to be a professional team structure to aspire to in the world of skating. So while many cyclists struggle to get by, or rely on their parents for support, or spend their savings, or spend a minuscule stipend to train full time, at least cyclists who can reasonably dream of becoming pros have something higher to aspire to.

Of course, the rest of us are left squeezing in training between work, eating, sleeping, and hopefully a little recreating.

That's what I'll be doing tomorrow. Because I have my weekly Blue Sky Bicycle shift inconveniently parked from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and because I have a meeting at the paper at 2 p.m., there won't be time for a ride tomorrow. I'm hoping to get to the Y instead, but that hour-long window is sure going to be tight -- and certainly won't leave time for a shower. That will have to come later in the afternoon.

Speaking of things that are tight, I'm headed to Florida this weekend for my grandmother's 90th birthday celebration. The plan was/is to travel Saturday to Sunday, which had the dual benefit of pissing off my brother (for leaving him alone with Mom and Dad) and getting me back for work on Sunday. However, I realized today that my return flight is booked for March 14, rather than Feb. 14, so hopefully I can get that changed. Otherwise, this might be a much longer trip than originally anticipated.

Publication of my latest Embrocation essay, as referenced yesterday, has been delayed a day. If you've got a problem with that, you can take it up with Publisher James Morrison, who is currently sleeping on my futon.

I'd take the matter up with him myself, but I've got a few thousand dollars of bike parts on order with him and I don't want to rock the boat.

Watch out, training on track

I hardly ever talk about numbers here on the blog. Forgive me this trespass, I promise there are only a few.

Lactic threshold intervals are on agenda for tomorrow. The last time I did these, in September, I was so burnt out that I could barely elevate my heart rate to zone 3. That was a clear indication that my long 2009 campaign was at an end. Scott says these are going to hurt, and I'm sure that he's right -- but in a kind of perverse way, I'm looking forward to it, because I'm becoming re-invigorated with the memory of how cool it is to go fast on a bike.

Besides, things are different now from what they were last fall. I haven't raced in more than four months (aside from 'cross, which really shouldn't count), and rather than feeling like I'm pedaling around with cement blocks on my feet, I can feel my body adjusting to the increasing workload, and eager for more. Last Thursday, while doing big-gear drills in the living room, I hit the fastest heart rate I have ever attained, 197 beat per minute. While that's not Tour-caliber, it's a pretty high, and I got there without seeing red and collapsing over the handlebar. Then, on Friday and Sunday I tackled some bigger hills with relative (for February) ease, wishing there was something bigger that I could go scamper up.

Here's another number: 18 hours. That was my total for last week, the most time I've spent riding in a single week yet this year, and really, a figure pretty close to what I've set as the upper limit to the amount of time that I can dedicate to this sport -- especially when you throw in the two hours I spent at the YMCA lifting weights. Unfortunately, Scott thinks I can find 20 hours for next week, but promises there won't be many such weeks. I guess we'll see about that.

Regardless, and to set numbers aside, I think things are going to go well for me once racing starts in a little less than a month (can you believe it?) Stay tuned for further, numbers-free updates in the coming weeks.

Also, watch for my latest Embrocation essay, to be published Tuesday!

Saints win the Super Bowl, Bernstein types through heavy eyelids

You know that scene in Zoolander where Derek is about to ruin his chances with Matilda before he realizes he wants a chance with Matilda by mocking her for her frigid sex life, but then Hansel saves the day by offering up some magical tea that he just brought back from a trip to the Himalayas?

I feel like I'm living that scene right now, except that I'm not talking to anyone about anything, let alone sex lives (frigid or otherwise), and instead of getting crazy high and partying all night, my tea is going to put me to sleep in about five minutes.

But, the important thing is: give into the power of the tea...

Queue the bed time montage: tooth brushing, underwear removal, shirt removal, contact lens removal, bed making, bed entry, reading, lights out. Not necessarily in that order. Note to anyone directing a biopic of my life: I imagine Dar Williams' "Mercy of the Fallen" playing over this montage.

Before my mind becomes hopelessly clouded by my Lipton's and visions of bedtime, I wanted to reflect on a few things. First of all, I had a great ride up to Sacandaga (for the second time in three days, after visiting Friday) with Mike, Aleks, Scott, and Jamie (making his big comeback!) this afternoon. It was cold, but not unbearably so. The icing on the cake was showing Mike a thing or two on the way up West Mountain. He may have been riding a 'cross bike, but I'm still claiming the KOM points. I didn't make it down to ride with the Albany crew this weekend, as requested by Sr. Ruiz, as the thought of getting up early enough to make the trip was not appealing -- especially when I knew Mike needed someone to pace him up the climb.

After the ride, it was off to work, where watching the Super Bowl transitioned for me from an excuse to hang out with friends and drink beers on a work-night to a matter of professional interest. I didn't really have a horse in this particular race, but I did think the Saints had a much better story, and I've always been a sucker for the underdog, so I am psyched to see them win, and that they made the second half pretty exciting wasn't a bad thing either.

Yes, I did just write a paragraph about football. I bet you never thought you'd see this day. Unfortunately, the Super Bowl was, for me, accompanied by tacos, wings, pizza and soda (no beer this year, I was at work, after all), all of which has left me feeling -- to barrow another reference from the canon of Zoolander -- "Are you not aware that I get farty and bloated with a foamy latte?"

In news that you're more accustomed to seeing me write about, it seems that Team Sky took a big win right out of the box, toasting Garmin at the Tour of Qatar stage 1 TTT. I haven't made up my mind about Sky -- a first-year team that I kind of see as interlopers -- but if they keep up that kind of riding, it'll be hard deny their worthiness.

I think Velo News buried the lead a little bit in their story about the TTT, as it seems that Cervelo set what would have been a second-best time, besting Garmin, Saxo Bank and the rest of the field, but was relegated because one of their riders pushed another. Since when is that illegal anyway? Although Cervelo has got great credentials for the classics, I've thought it was a little outgunned for TTTs and stage races, so I was surprised to see them put in such a solid ride today. To bad the refs weren't into the pushing.

Well, now the tea is making my lids really heavy, so cue Dar Williams and stick a fork in me; I'm done.

The Thursday post returns!

When I turned up for the Blue Sky Bicycles spin class at around 5:45 this evening, one of the first thing out of co-worker Kyle's mouth was "when are you going to have a Friday post?"

So, ask and thou shalt receive. It's not for nothing, this post comes at a great personal expense -- I was at work more-or-less continuously from 9:30 this morning until 10:30 this evening (notwithstanding a break for the aforementioned spin class, but who's counting). Following the epic work day, I had the real pleasure of hearing Sirsy playing to a nearly-empty (save for Ed, myself, and a few other Thursday night bar flies) at Gaffney's. Without the musical interlude, I think I would be asleep right now, so thank the band for this post.

Yes, I feel bad for the band for having to pay to an empty room, but it was certainly an intimate venue, and certainly fun tunes! Next time, I can only hope I'll have someone more attractive to dance with than Ed.

Anyhow, Kyle, a middle school teacher in the Queensbury district, says I've been making him envious with my mid-week, outside, multi-hour rides. All I can say to that is this: "Sorry Kyle, but I expect to head out for a four+ hour ride first thing in the morning. Perhaps you'd like to call in sick and join me?"

I have a feeling that isn't going to happen, but at least I've offered.

Enough babbling, here's what you came for:

Tops from the week:
1) Becker Road with Aleks.
2) The ToB training DVD. Incidentally, I've recently received some new, exciting ToB news, but it's going to wait for a more opportune moment.
3) Work has begun on the Saratoga Crit. We've got our work cut out for us, but I think 2010 is going to top 2009. Mark your calendar for May 8.
4) Marissa cleaned the kitchen, and it looks great! Thanks roomie!
5) Cool Runnings. If you haven't seen it, check it out.

Bottoms from the week:
1) As much fun as Becker Road was, I'm so over this lame winter.
2) Friends who ask you repeatedly to do stuff at night, knowing full-well what your work schedule is. I'm looking at you, Scott.
3) Changes to the living situation? Why can't things just stay as they are?
4) Just like everything else, I seem to have worn out the bearings on my rollers. I would say that was the last thing I needed to wear out, mid-winter.
5) Busy week, and it looks like one more on tap.

Selling a bike, bikes in the woods

In case anyone was wondering, I am still working at Blue Sky Bicycles. Lately, my only shift has been Wednesday mornings, when I'm pretty much all by myself for a few hours, until Scott arrives to take over. Then I leave for the day and go to my other job.

Typically, and obviously, this is a pretty slow time of year in the bike shop world. Not too many people are riding, and fewer still people are thinking about riding. Things will pick up later in the month, but for now, it's all pretty slow.

Which made today somewhat remarkable, in that we sold a bike. Granted, it was sold to a man who was looking for a deal on last year's model, but that was a very satisfied customer. Besides which, he bought a trainer so that he can start riding -- such as it -- immediately. And selling a bike is way more fun than not selling a bike.

Good times all around. In other news, the future of some public land is going to be up for discussion next week. Saratoga Mountain Bike Association President Steve Godlewski is circulating this letter to his membership, perhaps you will be moved to take action too:


Advocacy Alert! - Planning Underway for New Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area

Dear SMBA Member - We hope this message finds you staying warm and dreaming of warmer days riding the Stables. As you dream of the warmer days that 2010 still has in store, there is something you can do -- right now -- to help promote mountain biking in the Saratoga area.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is starting to develop a plan for managing the 570-acre Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located in the Towns of Wilton and Northumberland. Much of this area is currently off limits to bikes but is open to most other forms of recreation. Portions of it already have trails which many of you enjoy for snowshoeing, cross country skiing or hiking.

Here's where you the mountain biker come in - there will be a public meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Wilton Town Court. If you are available please consider attending this meeting and making it known that off road cycling should be included in the future of this important natural resource.

A few talking points to consider:

• Be Positive! It sounds basic but avoid negative comments.
  
• Stress that trail use should be inclusive, not exclusive. Mountain bicycling, hiking and trail running are very similar sports and there are many scientific studies that show the impacts to be the same. Therefore, any regulations should treat all trail users equally.
  
• "I am an avid lover of outdoor sports (pick a few hike, bird watcher, runner) and a mountain bicyclist."
• Talk about "shared trails," not Multi-use Trails.
• Talk about how we are all there because we enjoy the nature experience. Shared trails will unite all users to work together to help preserve the natural resources within the preserve.
• Cyclists give back to their local trail systems by volunteering on public land, protecting the environment and preserving open space.
• Off-road cycling is a great form of exercise and helps combat the societal trend toward obesity.
• It is a healthful activity with low impact and high benefit.
• Wildlife habitat enhancement is important but encouraging more people to use the trails will create a larger volunteer base to draw upon when work projects or fundraising is needed.
• "I would love to volunteer to help maintain trails that are available for mountain bicycling. Our club currently maintains trails within the general area."
• Mountain bicycling, hiking and trail running are very similar sports and there are many scientific studies that show the impacts to be the same. Therefore, any regulations should treat all trail users equally. (show link to studies from IMBA)
  

The official press release including directions to the Wilton Town Court is located here - http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/61631.html

Can't make the meeting? Email your comments to: r5info@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Please help promote off road riding in our area and participate in this important process!

Consider this: The world is run by people who show up.

Becker Road is good to go

First of all, Eryn forwarded me this from the Times today. I didn't really have much of a relationship with Tom, but I certainly remember him as a part of that block, around the corner from my parent's house, for my whole life. So, I walked by this guy, or saw him at the deli, thousands of times, give or take.

News of his death feels a little like similar news that I get periodically from my Mom of another store closing, or other, similar stuff. It's a little sad, but no great personal tragedy. However, I always kept my distance from Tom. So, my condolences to those who knew him better, to who his death is a real tragedy.

Second of all, after watching an endless video of the Tour of the Battenkill course, I popped over to Washington County today with Aleks to check out a few of the roads for real. Actually, we only rode one road from the race itself, Becker Road -- and a short stretch of Burton Road -- but I am pleased to report that all the dirt roads we saw were dry and clear, if anyone is looking to get out on some dirt this weekend.

Working later in the day has been a real adjustment for me, but I will say that going for a four-hour ride in the middle of the week, and still making it in to work more-or-less when I wanted to get there, is pretty nice. That the temperatures today were in the mid-20s was nice too. It could have been a little warmer, but I'm finally figuring out to properly dress myself for the cold -- jeez, it only took six winters.

Of course, Aleks trying to cajole me into joining her for a trip to the coast of Spain to train for two weeks didn't make me feel too good about riding around in the cold, but we can't all be full-time cyclists like she is! For now, I guess I'll just have to be grateful that I have at least one friend who's willing and able to ride with me in the middle of the day during the week.

In other news, this afternoon Dieter and I met with some members of the ad-hoc Marshall & Sterling Saratoga Criterium committee, to being our work for planning that race. The event, by the way, is on May 8. There will be lots more details to come, but for now, keep in mind that our goal is to double participation from last year -- so mark your calendar!

Film review: Battenkill training DVD

Screen shot of the ToB training DVD
Your training partner is Bill Pjontek
It's not a bad way to learn the course

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I'd been given a copy of the Tour of the Battenkill training DVD. Well, after two sessions spread out over two weeks I've finally watched the entire 3+ hour video.

Here's a video clip from the DVD.
Imagine spinning to this for 3 hours and you get the idea
I'd call this a must for anyone serious about winning the ToB

Now, you should not take my lackadaisical viewing schedule as any kind of a judgement of the video. The truth of the matter is that I became obsessed with NBC comedy 30 Rock at about the same time I was given the DVD, so it was difficult to squeeze both the DVD and episodes of 30 Rock into my trainer time. Clearly, Tina Fey won.

However, on Sunday, I watched the last episode of 30 Rock available on Net Flix, so I was able to resume watching the ToB training video during this afternoon's spin.

The video was produced in cooperation with the race itself, and Brand Eck Productions -- a company run by Ballston Spa cyclist, occasional Bernstein carpool mate, and all-around stand-up guy Tim Eck. The idea behind the video is to show people coming to the race from outside the area what the course looks like. Sure, you can study profiles, and you can think about what it will mean to race over 15 miles of dirt roads, but until you see it you don't really know.

To illustrate the course, Tim dispatched Battenkill-United rider Bill Pjontek to ride the course as Tim filmed him from a car. You, the viewer, watches Bill from behind as he climbs, descends, corners, and skitters in dirt. On screen you can see a running clock, as well as Bill's position on a map of the course. Dirt sections and other significant obstacles are noted with additional text on the screen. One caveat: the first feed zone appears not to be marked, and the second is mis-located by a couple hundred meters. Not a big deal, but something to be aware of.

The soundtrack is full of stock music, which turned me off at first, but, truthfully, it keeps the energy high.

The bottom line is this: I've ridden the ToB course (both new and old) more times than I care to admit. So, I know what it looks like. I can close my eyes and envision every inch in my head. So, I don't need the DVD, and so I have to admit, that it was a little monotonous at times. BUT, the ToB is a race where knowing the course counts for a lot -- a whole lot -- so, if I lived out of the area, or wasn't inclined to ride the course, this DVD would be a good way to gain a basic understanding of the race's rhythm, and to get a look at what the roads look like.

It's not as good as riding the real thing, but it helps.

Besides that, if you spend a lot of time riding your trainer, as I do, it certainly does make the time go by.

Order here.

*Although I did receive a free "press" copy of the DVD, I have not been, and will not be, compensated in any way for this post.