Pilarcitos CX at McLaren Park
In order to honor the limited text thesis of this blog, I opted to only include the last paragraph of my race report.
…”As I neared the end of my third lap, I was hoping that I would get lapped and not have to do another. I hopped over the 3 barrier setup and tried to impress the crowd with my high-flying mount (they cheered loudly before), but I dropped my chain once more. After manually putting it back on, I stumbled back onto the bike and got moving again. I heard the bell, and accepted the punishment of one more lap. I finally got lapped on the top of the climb, by 3 women in the front chase group and saw another on the return side trying to catch them. I decided I would stay ahead enough to make her have to fight for that accomplishment and picked up my pace until the finish. She never did pass me again, but I did thank her afterwards. I have a feeling that happens more often in women’s racing. I caught my breath after the finish line, but felt the pain in my back from all the climbing start to get worse as the cold air got into my sweaty clothes. I headed home to shower and ready myself for birthday festivities, after only one beer. I also decided that this course was more challenging that I’d prepared for, so either I get to training or I pick an easier course next time. In either case, I still enjoy it and am not ready to retire from the sport.”
2008 Bay Area Super Prestige
audio cave.
These are all bicycle songs!
Being that the word “velomuse”, was conceived from my past life as a professional DJ, I found it difficult to resist making a music contribution. I caved. Fortunately, for those of you on work computers – it will not automatically start unless you intend on it. You must click on the pop-out player.
“Speaking of attitude, how was yours this past season? What attitude did you have toward yourself when you were succeeding, and when you were struggling? The way you talked to yourself, the thoughts you had, the way you coached yourself…did it ever remind you of someone else? Strong voices in life often stay with us.”
~Marvin Zauderer, Sports Pyschologist.
Click here for the full article.
It made me reflect on the variety of successes I’ve had with racing, coaching, and even in my career. I observed that my own ability to pat myself on the back was affected by how others perceived my success.
reality on the sweet singletrack
While riding on of my neighborhood’s rare mountain-biker designed pieces of singletrack on my cross bike yesterday, I came across a new kind of unrideable: trash bags. Full of abandoned clothing. It appears as though the nearby concrete had become some kind of disposal facility for neighboring communities. I am adhorred by the thought that someone would even consider invoking greater damage to the environment – and so directly as to dump in one of the few serene places in the urban city of Oakland. The Oaklandish probably need it more than anyone, and that clothing could’ve gone to Salvation Army to help keep the homeless warmer this winter.
Such a shame…
Dirt Rag gets a Lifestyle.
“The Big Cheese himself, Maurice Tierney, explains: “Bicycle Times is a natural progression of publishing Dirt Rag Magazine for 20 years. Our devotion to the rotating mass of the bicycle wheel extends from the dirt to the pavement.””
I’ve been eagerly waiting for the launch, since I heard the rumour. The timing is impeccable and I hope I am only one of many subscribers, as the American bicycle culture gains momentum. Article Here.
The new bicycle lifestyle Magazine set to launch in March!
“Starting in January, workers who use two-wheelers as their primary transportation mode to get to and from work will be eligible for a $20-a-month, tax-free reimbursement from their employers for bicycle-related expenses. In return, employers will be able to deduct the expense from their federal taxes.”
from Bailout gives tax break to bicycle commuters, on SF Gate
Cyclocross Tire Review
A few years ago, I made a review for all the cyclocross tires I had accumulated, to help me categorize them for various conditions in races or rides. The selection below includes the most frequently used in my stable:
Highlight:
*Note: the higher the number indicates more of that quality on a 1-5 scale
Bontrager LT3 (700×35)
Rolling Resistance: 2, Traction: 5, Mud Shedding: 5, Hardness: 4
This tire fills the gap for a lot of other tires, and is truly usable in a variety of inclement weather conditions, while remaining suitable for off-road touring and commuting. On pavement, the medium height of the chevron-shaped knobs through the center give some bite that provides low rolling resistance on flat lands, but a bit of reverse knob-squirm when climbing steep hills. The siping in the outside knobs is also noticeable on sharp corners, but you get used to it. On dirt, rocks, and mud: the overall profile excels with every knob engaging to provide ultimate traction – no wash outs, no accidental skidding, and no sliding on roots. The only downside to the tough casing was not as responsive to changes in tire pressure for major shifts in terrain. This might also be interpreted as flat-protection, however. On ice or hard pack snow: the siping (little slices to the knobs), really works to your advantage, has a bit of a suction cup grip, and way lighter than studded tires. This tire is also available in Eco-conscious rubber, but was not tested.
WTB Cross Wolf 700x32c
Rolling Resistance: 3, Traction: 4, Mud Shedding: 3, Hardness: 4
This tire proves to have strategically placed knobs across the unidirectional cross-corrugated casing, providing a stable climbing and descending platform for rigid bikes. Even with the high-profile knobs, there isn’t a tremendous amount of squirm in the lower tire pressure range – which helps with sharp cornering. In loose terrain, the tire was entirely capable of cutting through to shallow hard-pack without sliding. The dual compound manages limited wear despite being ridable in a multitude of conditions, and would be the preferred tire for pine needles and/hard pack sandy conditions with occasional roots or rocks. It’s inspired me to tackle new challenges. This great training tire might be a bit heavy for race weight bikes. If I had one complaint, it would be the fact that this tire doesn’t make as cool of a “zip” sounds as with the Interwolf.
WTB Inter Wolf (700x38c)
Rolling Resistance: 2, Traction: 1, Mud Shedding: 2, Hardness:2
I have frequently gone back to this for pothole-covered road commuting although the dual compound is magnetic for goatheads. It has a tendency to spin-out on climbs because of the relatively slick-style tread, and had trouble doing switchbacks because of its width on singletrack turns. I definitely wouldn’t race on it, because it’s kinda heavy and doesn’t accelerate well at all. It’s also not UCI legal (needs be under 35 width), not that I am doing any of those races.
Maxxis Larsen Mimo CX (700x32c)
Rolling Resistance: 1, Traction: 4, Mud Shedding: 1, Hardness:1
This is one tire that accelerates well in Bay Area conditions, because the casing sits tall, and it has scattered mid-profile knobs. Because of the scattered nature, the knobs wear fast if ridden on pavement often and squirm in sharp turns. Good for fast, flat and sandy routes.
Michelin Mud/Sprint (700x32c)
Rolling Resistance: 2, Traction: 5, Mud Shedding: 5, Hardness:1
These tires are probably my favorite off the shelf, because of the way it makes the bike feel connected to the terrain, but it wears ridiculously fast even if you don’t ride much pavement. They’re are also suitable for specified front (Mud) and rear (Sprint), so that you get the hook-up on the climbs and turns, without loosing momentum on acceleration. It also repels Mud like I wish I could repel poison oak.
Continental Twister (700x32c)
Rolling Resistance: 4, Traction: 5, Mud Shedding: 3, Hardness:5
This is the perfect tire for technical riding on your ‘cross bike. It’s not great for moving fast on pavement or hard-pack, unless you like working against yourself. It does, however, grip rocks and roots extremely well, as if the hard compound seeps an anti-weather substance. If I ever move back East and am forced to ride on the ice – this would be my tire of choice.
Kenda Kwick (700×32)T
Rolling Resistance: 4, Traction: 1, Mud Shedding: 2, Hardness:5
These tires are what I was first sold as a multi-purpose tire. It served as a fairly heavy, yet puncture resistant city tire. I rarely used it off-road, as the knob profile was shallow and chevron shaped. The variation in density and traction changed little when tire pressure was released.
Ritchey Speedmax (700×30)
Rolling Resistance: 3, Traction: 3, Mud Shedding: 2, Hardness: 3
Much like my first pair, but with squared knobs outside and a smooth center tread. This was curious to me: two tires in one. When changing a flat, the bead was particularly tight on the hook of the rim -resulting in detachment from the casing. Not impressive.
WTB All-Terrainasaurus (700x32c)
Rolling Resistance: 1, Traction: 3, Mud Shedding: 3, Hardness:5
I used to have this unbelievably awesome bike commute from Oakland to Mill Valley, and often split my route with dirt in either direction. This was the perfect tire, because of its low rolling resistance and natural flat-proofing on pavement, which helps when you might have a loaded bike or extra weight from a messenger bag. It is an economic choice and versatile as the harder compound doesn’t wear fast (but is heavy), and can be deflated a bit for off-road adventures, enabling the outer knobs to hook up on dirt.
Leadership Development links
These are posts from my old blog, which I am extracting for relevance here. I wrote all of them:
IMBA World Summit 2008, Day 1and Day 2.
USA Cycling Women’s Leadership Workshop at the Olympic Training Center
in exchange for $5 at the used book store.
Hopefully my hand shows that I'm dedicated.
Audio from the BART Bikes Access Task Force meeting 06 Oct 08
My presentation is 3/4 the way through based on the statistics shown previously.
