Tour De Cure

I road the Tour de Cure metric century today. I was regretting that decision after about four hours of pedaling.
The weather was perfect. My old bike was running just as nice as the temperature. I met a lot of great cyclist. Some even gave me some unwanted cycling advise. I was able locate and hang with cycling legend Alexander on his fixed gear bike for 30 miles. During the final 10 miles I only wanted to get back to Reston and drink a cold smoothy. When we were going about 22mph at mile 40 I knew I was pushing it. My body shape prevents me from going much faster than that. I averaged 14mph for the day. If that seems low, it is faster than I average when I ride for 20 miles. I rolled into Reston Hot and spent, but I got my smoothy and that made life good.

I had the opportunity for a 3 hour ride today. I rode to my favorite rest stop just west of Leesburg, VA. on the W&OD Trail.

VandeVelde School of Style

My Nephew Kai, recently entered his first bicycle race. At 3 years old, he felt compelled to challenge his friends in the 4-6 age group. After receiving a Like-A-Bike for his 3rd birthday he had little interest in riding until he met Christian Vande Velde. Christian inspired the style Kai was sporting at this years Air Force Bicycle Classic starting line. With the only laminated birch frame in the field, Kai pushed his 7.7 pound velocipede mid pack. No one remembers how he finished that day, only the comment made by former U.S. Postal Pro rider Frankie Andreu "look at that kid!" as Kai crossed the finish line.

Old friends and old bikes are often what we cherish most. My 2005 Specialized Sirrus Pro Disc is one of those bikes that I have enjoyed for the past five years. While I am waiting on the completion of the muse, I have been putting more miles on the Sirrus. I rode this bike on the 2005 and 2007 Dalmac. I remember the 2005 ride for how easy it was, my dad and I were on the East route. I remember the 2007 ride as the year I did not have the time to prepare, and paid in pain tickets. Same bike different experiences. That is what I love about this bike.

Who was the hobgoblin of the Brittany moor?

Known as the hobgoblin, Jean Robic was one tough bastard. He crashed during the 1944 Paris-Roubaix race and finished with a fractured skull. His short stature and crash prone riding style led the press to largly ignore him. Robic was best known as the winner of the 1947 Tour de France. He did not capture the Yellow Jersey untill he finished in Paris. Robic was one of the only men in history to race for and win the yellow jersey on the ceremonial final stage. Robic was one of the greatest cyclo-cross racers of the 1940's. He was a French Champion and the first World Cyclo-Cross Championship in 1950.

May Showers

It has been raining much in northern Virginia. Finding the time to ride has been fleeting. I am looking for that double rainbow.

The 50 minute challange

Today, my good friend Aaron called to tell be that his first ride of the year netted him 11 miles and it only took him 50 minutes. Ok, very good. I can do that easy. I couldn't wait for my ride today. 95 degrees no problem. I managed to go 11 miles in 47 minutes. I was very thirsty by now and took a drink of my water. It was quite warm. I was now now about 8 miles from home, another drink and it felt like bath water. I didn't want any more water. Total for the day 19 miles 1 hour 30 minutes. Your move..AP