veloblog: bicycling in Greensboro, NC and the surrounding area

Omloop Het Volk

More Spring classics goodness.

Technorati Tags: omloop het volk, cycling

Tire scorecard

I got about 1,000 miles out of a set of Vittoria Diamante Pro Lights. Neither the performance nor the cost offset the piss-poor durability.

Tomorrow I'm trying out a new, different set of tires. I'm excited about these. Stay tuned.


Technorati Tags: vittoria, tire, bicycle

It's that time of the year

The very best part of the pro cycling season, set against a backdrop of politics and temper tantrums.


Technorati Tags: uci, aso, spring classics, cycling

I know I'm stating the obvious...

...but dude can ride.



Technorati Tags: danny macaskill, mountain bike, trials, youtube

Roaming Ride

The Roaming Ride returns. Check out the GVC calendar for details.

Teaser: March is gonna be all about hills.


Technorati Tags: roamingride, cycling, greensboro, hills

The pack's getting faster while I'm getting older

Used to be that February rides were easy. Cruise for 25 miles or so and call it a day. But no more. Riders are getting stronger so rides are becoming longer and faster. Case in point: Saturday's 45 mile "Let's Piss Off Fred Ride." Why the LPOFR? I'll get back to that.

I don't warm up easily, so the first 15 miles or so are always a test. My legs hurt, my lungs hurt, everything hurts. And then I'm just fine. I can roll along in the bunch pretty easily, and climbing becomes much more fun. This start slow, finish (relatively) fast mode of mine seems to be a function of advancing age. But it meant that while the first hour of yesterdays ride was no fun at all, the last 2/3 was great.

As for the name of the LPOFR, it's because the ride passes Pleasant Garden town limit signs several times. The first time we did the ride Fred made the mistake of complaining about this; so now he has a ride named after him. Here's the route:

L Vandalia
R Wiley-Davis
X Groometown
L Vickery Chapel
R Kivett
L Riverdale
R Hwy 62
L Harlow
R Muddy Creek (Frazier?)
L Cedar Square
-> Coltrane Mill
X 62
L Old Randleman
R Steeplechase
-> Hunt
S on Hunt
L Kearns Hackett
L 22/Appomattox
R Hagan Stone Park Rd
L Tabernacle Church
R Neeley
L Talbot
R Alliance Church
L Ritters Lake
R Randleman
L Old Randleman
R Harris/Drummond
L Bishop
R Groometown
R Wiley Davis
-> OTH Park

Total distance is 44.8 miles.


Technorati Tags: cycling, greensboro, oka t hester park

Getting around to commenting on NAHBS

It's not like there hasn't already been a load of photos and commentary about the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, but I'll add a little more anyway, now that I've had time to digest what I saw. To keep this concise I'll break it down into three categories: 1) What I liked, 2) That which underwhelmed me, and 3) Things I'd spend my own money to buy.

What I liked:

• Townsend Cycles. Cleanly constructed lugged bikes with modern (read: sloping tt) geometry. The builder has a terrific eye for design.
• Pegorettis. Any of them, though I particularly loved the orange and blue Luigino that was on display.
• Speedvagen Road. A purpose-built road race bike.
• SRAM Red. Lots of bikes were sporting the newish Red group.
• Jones Spaceframe. Among a boatload of rigid mountain bikes, this stood above the rest.
• Andy Hampsten's Huffy Landshark. A very cool piece of cycling history.
• Roadrunner Velo (and Crumpton). Two nice builders of carbon frames. Crumpton's frames are as good as any, and Roadrunner Velo's are super clean, and about a grand less in price.

I was underwhelmed by:

• Rapha clothing. Nice? Very. Cool? Absolutely. Worth the asking price? Not for me.
• About 95% of the fixed gear bikes on display.
• Roughly the same percentage of rigid mountain bikes shown.

Where I'd spend my money:

• Townsend road frame. Given the build quality and JB paint, it's a bargain.
• Co-Motion tandem. The Velowife and I have a 16 year old Co-Motion, and I'd buy another one without any hesitation.
• Crumpton SL road frame. I've been on the fence about the value of a Crumpton frame, but I'm coming around.
• Hampsten/Landshark 7-11 replica. With the inch and a quarter fork.

Technorati Tags: nahbs2008

Enough.

Amen:

"While both the Mafia and Cycling have brutalized people while developing, the Mafia don’t deserve the insult of comparison to cycling’s leaders, as several Mafia organizations have done a better job of going legit and developing extremely successful, professional and profitable businesses…

Cycling on the other hand seems to be stuck in a struggle between the UCI who are struggling for credibility and relevance and the Grand Tours inability to see past the next short term pay day."

Technorati Tags: uci, pro cycling, aso

Best of NAHBS

Best slogan on a t-shirt: "Hate you, hate your bike"

Best decal seen on a bike: "This machine kills hipsters"


Technorati Tags: nahbs, nahbs2008, portland, bicycles

Back from NAHBS

Last weekend was the bikes, beer and coffee triathlon, or as it's otherwise called, NAHBS. My buddy Paul and I met in Portland, OR for a weekend of gawking at fine handmade bicycles, sipping the local microbrews, and recharging with the occasional cup of Stumptown's finest.

I shot a few photos.



Click here to see the entire set.




Technorati Tags: nahbs, portland, handmadebikes