Weekend races

This Memorial Day weekend I raced a couple of Crits... the GS Tenzing Criterium on Sunday and the Moritz State Championship Crit today. Both days I finished pretty close to last... but I finished, which was my big goal.

Here I am hanging near the back of the bunch, saving energy:

Then, a guy named Pete and I worked together in a breakaway, only we did it with a style all our own. I call it the "reverse break." I mean, anybody can ride off the front. I think we had a much tougher time going off the back and chasing the rest of the race:

I don't have any pictures of the Moritz Crit this morning, but the course was awesome. It weaved right through the cultural district here in Fort Worth. There was a tree-lined slightly uphill boulevard as the finish, lots of great turns (including one off-camber screamer), and even a section of brick road.

I was off the back of the group after a few laps again today, but I didn't fall as far back. I was able to make up a lot of time with good bike handling on the technical course. The race was right in the middle of my old neighborhood, so I knew all the corners really well. It was cool to ride them completely closed to auto traffic, though. Tons of fun.

I'm a cycling nerd

So, I wrote to Steve Hampsten, co-president with Andy Hampsten of Hampsten Bicycles, to suggest that Andy comment on the Hampsten Cycles blog about how he viewed the shortening of snowy Giro stage 17.

At first, Steve replied saying great idea, but Andy just arrived in Italy and isn't around to respond.

But then later today I got an answer anyway, as Steve forwarded me this message from Andy:

"They cancelled some race stage in Italy, seemed it was wet and cold.
We should be selling boatloads of Giro '88 bikes to all the
disgusted fans now.

A"

I know I'm a nerd, but I was excited to get a peek, however small, inside the mind of one of my cycling heroes. Andy won the '88 Giro because he was just plain tougher than anybody else in the race. Sadly, some equally tough guy in this year's field lost his chance to win because Giro organizers decided to coddle the racers instead.

I hate to say it, but if you're a pro racer and don't want to ride in adverse weather, just abandon the race. There's no shame in that if you don't do well in bad weather. But if you really want to finish, hell... they make cold weather gear for cycling. I've got some I'll lend you if your team wont get you any.

OK, random ranting over. Admittedly, I'm not a pro and I'll never be one, so I'm speaking without firsthand knowledge of what these guys go through. My only point is that modern racers, while better athletes than ever before, also seem to have less of an edge, less toughness.

Giro disappointment

I realize how sensible it was for Giro organizers to shorten yesterday's epic stage due to abysmal weather... but I was still disappointed. I mean, we could have seen another tough guy like Andy Hampsten emerge as the surprise winner, after Basso seeminly had it in hand. That would have been legendary, just like Ham and the Gavia pass.

I wonder if Andy's going to have any comments on this?

Cats Ride Photos

gathering for the ride...



heading out



rolling through downtown



It was a very diverse crowd; from roadies to choppers, and everything between



the view from the courthouse steps



Right turn in front of the courthouse



Jason helped hand out PCB bottles at the gate



the MANS



me just after the first pitch... apparently my speed is so blinding I threw before Jason was really ready to take my picture



"Dodger", the Cats' mascot (Check out the "F W" in his eyes!)



The Climb from the stadium back up to the Courthouse



The Flatiron building is one of my favorites; on the pediment those things that look like gargoyles are actually growling Panther heads.



Chuck's sweaty back proves how hot is was today. It was well worth it, though. The Cat's even won, 10-9!

That's my boy!

In a ride that should silence his critics, at least for a couple of days (that's right Lance, I'm talking about you), Jan Ullrich won the long Time Trial in the Giro yesterday.

Everytime a read a story about how Jan Ullrich is a waste of talent, overweight, blah blah blah, I get frustrated because I just don't see it. He didn't gain that much weight this winter. Sure, he had injuries that slowed his training, but now he's obviously back on track and flying. And he's done it all in the face of stinging criticism.

But let's face it, there's only one guy that's performed more consistently in the Tour for the last 7 years, and he's retired (He's also one of the quickest naysayers and kind of a jerk about Ullrich, but he's the only guy with the legs to back his criticism). Whether or not you believe he can do it, Jan has a very good chance at a victory in Paris, and I'll be cheering for him all the way.

Take me out to the ballgame...

Sunday, May 21st is Panther City Bicycles water bottle day at the Fort Worth Cats game... first thousand or so in the gates get a PCB/Cats water bottle.

We're also organizing a ride to LaGrave field for that game. We did it with 20 or so riders last year, and it was a blast. This year, we've got 100 free tickets for folks who want to ride to the game with us!

Spread the word, and bring your friends and family along. It will be a fairly easy paced ride along the Trinity Trails to LaGrave field. If you've never been to a Cats game, you're missing out. Great hometown feel, a cool ballpark with a view of downtown, and even concessions (yes, Beer) that aren't ridiculously expensive.

Game time is 1:05 p.m., so be here at the shop and ready to ride at noon. Bring a lock... how cool would it be to see a giant flotilla of 100 bikes parked in front of the stadium!?

Short notice, but please come!

If you ride a bike, your presence is needed tomorrow night at the Fort Worth City Council meeting. The meeting's agenda includes a discussion about the proposed/funded/delayed/"hey, where are they anyway" bike route system in Fort Worth.

Meeting starts at 7p.m. at City Hall.

Be there. It's important. I think you can even speak to the council if you want to.