Monday, April 25, 2011

Hey You Wheel Sucker!

I'd like to introduce everyone to FREEBIRD VELO's new mascot!

BECKY!


She will be floating around from time to time to add some feisty-ness to the blog. I hope you've all seen American Flyers. If not, I don't know what to tell you. Are you riding a beach cruiser? I identify a little bit with Becky, she's kind of an airhead, she's frisky, and she likes Fig Newtons.
So welcome to Freebird Becky, hope you brought your rock, we might need it sometime.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

I Want a Dog Named Fausto




I'm an American. Am I happy about it? Yes. Do I sometimes daydream about being born into a Tuscan family, raising olives and taking my truffle sniffing dog named Fausto out into the woods, hunting tasty fungus? Yes I do. I have an unhealthy at times, passion for all things Italian. Whether it be cycling related, food, travel(at some point), and their wonderful use of the coffee bean. I hope by some karmic coincidence, if I submerse myself in all things Italian I will come back as an Italian, hopefully still female with a bigger rack, and thick, shiny, lustrous hair, oh, and still have my passion for cycling. I understand the rack might interfere with my aerodynamics but I'm willing to take a chance.



Before I turned into an Italo-phile (is that right?) and I started looking for my first road bike, I checked out our LBS, Cyclery USA. I've been going there since my first bike. For my first road bike I test rode a Trek 1.5, I think, it was white with neon green. I never put a leg over a road bike in my life until that day. It was like that bike was made for me. It felt surprisingly good, even after being on cushy mountain bikes. I have to owe it to Trek or my body geometry, I don't know which, but they do make a well made, handsome bike. You see, Treks are handsome. Bianchi's on the other hand are georgeous. After watching this video it reminded me of the first time I test rode that atomic pea green Trek. I also like hearing Fabian talk about his first time on the cobbles, makes me appreciate him even more.

I will say Trek-Leopard is taking a lot of crap for their kits but I like 'em. The blue/green band kind of looks like celeste.

Monday, April 18, 2011

A little Sum'n Diffrent




I know this is a cycling blog but one or two of you out there might surf too. This wetsuit was too sick to just keep to my little old self, sorry it's a girls suit.


Also a new shop, at least to me, down in Newport, called Almond. Need to check it out this weekend.

And also the hubby needs to try out his birthday present I made him. This fine custom sea-ghetto handplane.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Paris Roubaix Plus 2





It's Tuesday, Paris Roubaix was two days ago. I've had time to process and watch the final hour of racing three times over. I was watching Cancellara and Hushovd when they were having a heated discussion with what looks like a director's car and Garmin's team car. I did read in an interview- Thor said he wanted to respect his teammate up the road so he would stay on Cancellara's wheel the whole day and not attack. Is that real racing? Does that seem like a pussy move, I say yes. They were 20 seconds from the lead group at one time, why didn't they bridge the gap? I want to see real racing, brutal, painful, glorious racing. Don't get me wrong, I know they rode their hearts out, but what I saw was pathetic. Where is the Thor from stage 17 in 2009 Tour de France, breaking away to take full control of the green jersey from Cavendish.
How would you like to see that coming up in your rear view?

Funny coincidence: there's a quote from Cancellara in the May issue of Velonews magazine, yes I still read paper products. Here it is:

In the end it was Belgian, Johann van Summeren who emerged out of the cobbled dust bowl. With a flat no less for the last few k's, but still able to propose to his long-time girlfriend.
Just for the ladies and you sensitive guys

Garmin got their long awaited big Classics win. I'm kind of thinking that this would of happened for them sooner or later, they didn't need all the extra artillery that Cervelo added. Anything can happen with a proper breakaway. That's my 2cents.


All in all it was a sweet Paris Roubaix. Don't get me wrong, Cancellara had a good race and tried to put in a last minute attack. He either didn't have the legs or was actually foiled by Garmin's supposed attack plan. It just shows us that riders are human.


Monday, April 11, 2011

Mixing Business With Pleasure



San Diego Custom Bike Show, Bike Jumble, and Gran Fondo this weekend. I have to owe it to my hubby, not too many men would give up their weekend to help sit behind a table pedaling their wife's wares to bike show attendees. Actually it was just Saturday, Sunday we did the Gran Fondo, although I don't know which was worse for him. 60 miles is kind of hard on a body after a shabby winter of riding, add to that a crappy saddle (I will not mention which one he has but it looks like it could use some viagra), not the happiest of bums, that's for sure.

Our Post For 6 Hours
No One Bought My $25 Banana
Bilenky's Infamous Shelly Horton
My Personal Favorite, Winter Bicycle's Cross Bike (Sweet and Simple)

Back to the show, kind of small. I was too cheap to buy a booth at the show so I opted for the Bike Jumble. It unfortunately was not like the ones that go on in New York. We had 8 vendors total, and it was upstairs from the show. If you don't know about it, it's a bike swap meet, were you can buy whole bikes, bike parts galore, bike related crafts, anything cycling. This one was like that, just on a more miniature, half-assed scale. My table was next to the big window and I got to watch Bilenky do a photo shoot in front of a fountain. That was the highlight for Saturday.

More Than Halfway Through on Sunday

I Got Chocolate GU on my Jersey (front and back)
Therefore Hubby Called me Shit Tit For 26 Miles

The Gran Fondo was good, medio route wasn't completely flat but it didn't kill you either. I'm curious how the 100 miler was. Not that I was ready for it by any means. Couldn't ask for better weather. I don't think it got hotter than 80 degrees, and not a cloud in the sky. Well, after the marine layer burned off, once that happened my fingers started gaining feeling. If you ever get the chance I highly recommend doing it, friendly people, it's organized pretty well, and we didn't get lost. Good sign placement. Only thing I would change is the finish line. You have to cross 3 lanes of busy traffic to turn into the expo/finish line. My hubby used this to his advantage, he knows I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to heavy traffic. Little bugger went on red to get to the finish line first. His trash talking came to fruition. C'est la vie.

Yep, It's a Pup
I Saw The Great American Hero(Google if you don't know him) in Chula Vista

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

The Cursed Kit



As you might of known I signed up for the women's public race during the Redland's Bicycle Classic. Bigger turnout than last year for sure, which is a good sign. 4 girls in the 18-35, 4 in the 36-44, and one lucky lady in the older group. I will not say which group I was in but there were 4 girls in it, nough said. So the field doubled from last year and I actually had some competition. Not really. They were all sweet ladies, very nice, and I half wanted to ride slow to be a one woman cycling morale booster. Just riding from one little woman to the next, urging her on. Back to the race.


I decided on my I. Martin, Belgian kit because Tour of Flanders was going Sunday. Big mistake. I'm superstitious, I knew putting it on I shouldn't be wearing it. Every time I wear it for a race or sportive something crappy happens. I'm either bringing up the rear in a crit or riding the San Diego Gran Fondo in 2 inches of rain. Don't get me wrong I won my age class. The fact is I lost a 6 mile race to a woman wearing a Bike Chick jersey, and nose ring. Don't let those power bottom chicks fool you. Ooooh, the humiliation, the mental anguish. I replayed the could'a, would'a, should'a scenarios in my head over and over.


How it came down is simple.

First lap- 3 riders- I sit behind

Second lap- loose a rider- sit behind Bike Chick

Third/Fourth lap- I'm an all day sucker baby

Final lap- she took off, I didn't realize it was lap 5. Chased her but couldn't get her wheel. Ugh.

I blame Todd Gogoulski. He did the race announcing and I felt guilty seeing him because I bad mouthed him on the blog saying he and Steve Schlanger sound like a morning radio duo. So now I have bad Gogo karma. I actually felt honored having him announce our race. I take back my comments. All in all, I had fun which is what it's about. Keeping it fun at this level is a good way to keep and bring more women into the sport.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Redlands Bicycle Classic Sunset Loop Stage



Just finished watching the men run around Sunset. Got to see the ladies go this morning, HTC were killing it. Always had at least 3 in the lead group. Cath Cheatley won the stage for Colovita. Enjoy the photos, I ran my ass all around this stage now I got nasty allergies. Ladies take up the first 4 photos, men are after. Check out Velonews for full race results.




Saturday, April 2, 2011

Redlands Bicycle Classic Day 3




Third day of Redlands Bicycle Classic. I didn't go to the Beuamont stage yesterday because it was my adorable hubby's birthday. Today was crit day. For the ladies we had Theresa Clif-Ryan take a win for Colavita. For the men we have Roman Van Uden for Pure Black. What did I tell you about this team, definite one to watch this year. Could be New Zealand's answer to a future TdF team. I'm just saying.




Colombus Steel Tattoos