tuesday

Who wants to carpool? Kind of weird having a race on a Tuesday, but I'm not working so I'm totally game.

tomorrow

Last chance to hit up Goldsprints before the season ends!

"Last chance for Mousetrap Goldsprints this spring! Let's get a big turnout and have some fun inside on the bikes before it is time to start riding outside!

Goldsprints at the Mousetrap sponsored by Fat Tire. There will be a special on Fat Tire. Fat Tire Schwag will be given away to random participants!

300m open qualifying sprints from 5-8pm and 600m finals for both men and women from 8 to 9pm.

Fun sprints whenever and in between final rounds"

Do it!

even at our worst, we're still better than most

I'm not one to give out product endorsements. Even so their are some things that deserve it. Around 2 years ago Andy gave me a pair of Crank Bros. Candy Cs that forever changed my perception of how comfortable, efficient, and fun riding a bike could be.

All week I've been planing on setting some time aside to rebuild these pedals but those plans fell through and I've continued riding them regardless. Then tonight on the ride after a decent hour or so of riding coming out of Rod and Gun my right pedal finally had enough and came clean off the spindle.

This damage aside it is important to note that these are by far the best pedals I have ever dealt with (not saying I've dealt with tons). As far as commuting year round in all sorts of different weather and styles of riding and hundreds of miles between rebuilds Eggbeaters take the cake. Completely unmess-with-able if you ask me.

So there's my endorsement, I will go to the mat for Crank Bros any time, check em out.

sped

There has been a bit of talk about doing some more racing this year either as individuals or a team. I like that idea, not necessarily because I care that much about winning, but I do care about riding and having fun. So in order to try to facilitate that I added a "Races" section to links with a few main pages for WI bike racing. Hopefully more to come later.

i want to go to there

Took the mountain bike out today for the first time this year. Can't wait for new parts, the ground to dry, and trails to open up. It's going to be a good year.

quota

Man, I am really filling my quota for posts today. But I saw this and needed to post it. A nice response to anyone who takes riding to serious.

Ironclad Performance Wear Cycling Team: A Summer Behind Bars [TEASER] from Will Walle on Vimeo.

As if

As if you needed another reason to hate this guy.

Walker's budget eliminates state money for bike/pedestrian improvements

"I don't have a problem with it as long as it doesn't take away from fixing existing infrastructure," Walker said. "If we fix the crumbling roads and bridges, then I"m willing to look at other things, like bike paths."

Good to know where your priorities lay. Since when does this guy give a hoot about improving infrastructure, remember the 810$million for light rail in WI? I also like when people talk about "crumbling bridges and roads" sure Wisconsin weather takes a tole on our infrastructure but using words like "crumbling" just seems like a scare tactic to try to make it look as though we are all in certain peril of getting sucked into quick sand if we don't let him do whatever he wants.

Ugh, forget this joker. Warm spring time TNR tonight!

!GOLDSPRINTS!

Last Goldsprints of the winter is coming up, sponsored by Fat Tire. Go there!

Wednesday, March 30 · 5:00pm - 9:00pm

The Mousetrap Tavern

311 S. Barstow st

Eau Claire, WI

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=190000517702359

milk

I'm a sucker for old cycling videos. I found this Tour of Britain aka Milk Race documentary and need to share it.

spring

It's way to nice out to be sitting around on a computer, but I've been working on taxes and finding a job all day so that is what I've been relegated to. Anyway, once the sun goes down and the temperature drops check these out.

ASPHALT CPH: JUMBO - The fastest cat in town. from Director René Sascha Johannsen on Vimeo.

Stupor Bowl 2011 from Eric Schleicher on Vimeo.

I was also cruising video files on my computer the other day and found this little video I must have put together shortly after last years valleycat and never posted.

Valleycat 2010 recap from David Smuhl on Vimeo.

Listen to:

RVIVR
Discover America
Braid
This Album

done

Internet has been down, it's been a while. More later.

tech

It never ceases to amaze me how these downhill/trials guys look at everything in front of them as something that is ridable. Everything from staircases to boulders to buildings is just an obstacle which can be ridden. Just totally nuts, can't wait to get the MTB out.

A Hill in Spain from chris akrigg on Vimeo.

new bike day

There is no day like a new bike day, especially when you don't see it coming. Monday was a long miserable day for me. I broke a tooth Sunday night and had to work early with a busted tooth all day, go to the dentist, and just generally feel kind of miserable all day. But when I got home I was pleasantly surprised to see the Motobecane Le Champion I had posted about last week resting on my couch. I called my prime suspect, and sure enough my dad had gone above and beyond his fatherly duties and picked it up for me.

I know there are more than a few people out there who could care less about Campagnolo stuff, especially older Campy stuff. I am not one of those people, I drool over that stuff. And this bike is fully decked out in Campy, Nuovo Record derailers, Record hubs laced to Mavic Gel 280s, Atax Philippe stem, campy everything else down to the brake pads. This bike is just way cooler than anything I imagined I would ever own and I've been rolling around on it and oggling it all day. I guess the former owner wanted to try a triathlon so he bought the bike new, used it a few times never got into it and let it sit in his garage for 30 years.

And it shows, everything is immaculate except for wear on the saddle which is probably going to be replaced anyway. It even came with the original Campy tire pump. Plus the guy threw in a set of Ofmega hubs laced to Super Champion Gentleman 81Rims, old Vittoria road shoes, tires, and an old Mavic Look clipless setup.

I love my dad.

NAHBS

NAHBS (North American Handmade Bike Show, for those who don't know) wrapped up this week and if you haven't already checked out some of the insanely cool bikes all the people who were down in Austin are back and showing off their photos. Way too cool. Check out Cog, Urban Velo, and Prolly for a taste.