P.S.: I rode 33 hard miles today, killer hills (that the group insisted on going back and repeating... masochists).

Getting stronger every day.

Her wheels & tires should be here today! I have the other stuff already, can't wait to put it all on and give it to her.

OK, I'll continue this conversation with myself.

Got it all on, and we went out so she could test drive it.... did a little over 25 mi. It's a winner! She said the uphills were easier, and she was *definitely* taking off faster when she stepped on the pedals. I'm sooooo relieved it made a visible difference to her.

Here's what I did:

American Classic Sprint 350 wheels, with titanium skewers
Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX (clincher) tires
Replaced rear cassette with 12/25 Ultegra (9 speed)
Replaced chain with DuraAce

It's already a full carbon bike, but it had Bontrager Race Lite wheels and a heavier cassette. The rolling weight difference obviously makes a huge difference in response up hills, and the new tires grab really well around turns.

Now she's really gonna kick my ass all season....

T.

Her bike has a cassette-tape player? Cool!

That's pretty impressive, Troy. Your bikes make mine look like crap. I thought Bontrager Race Lite wheels were good, but I guess I was mistaken. My wheels probably weigh twice what those American classic things do, but if I rode those, I would probably break them, as I am pretty close to the weight limit and wheels don't like me. I need to go to bed now so I can make the Pineville ride in the morning. When are you riding this weekend?

Race Lites are good! Reliable, steady (from what I hear, that is.... I'm just learning). But they are the bottom of the line for Bontrager, is all I meant. These Am. Classics are definitely an upgrade.

I'm riding the booty loop after class today, probably just for 30 miles or so. Tomorrow, weather permitting, doing 55 on the "Owen's Bagel" ride. PM me if you're interested! Starts 8am Sunday, if we're able to do it...

I see what you are saying about Bontrager wheels; I guess I was mistaking race lites with race lite XXX carbon, and all the other wheels they have. I checked those out, and the MSRP is $3200 for a pair. Wow. This morning was not happening, because of the rain, but I might go out this afternoon, or I might wait until tomorrow afternoon. Sunday am is not happening for me. Maybe if I get ambitious I will ride all the way up into Charlotte today.

Anyone else riding lately? I did 30 or so yesterday, the same this evening. Yesterday I went with a group ride posted on the website of the Rock Hill Bike club. They were pretty fast, and I got dropped after taking a turn at the front into the wind. They were kind and waited for me, and then took it a little easier. Tonight I went up to Fort Mill and by Lake Wylie, and rode up that hill I went down last month and set a record speed. It was pretty intense, but not any worse than one or two hills back in Columbia. Maybe. I think I will take tomorrow off. The bike is making an annoying creaking noise.

Great stuff Dre!

I haven't ridden since Tuesday, rode 30 then. Plan to ride both days this weekend tho,' we'll see how far.

Just so you all know.... I read this thread regularly and get green with envy every time I do. I miss cycling. Maybe soon.
J

What's stoppin ya?

Yeah, you're right. Things have been pretty crazy for some time now. I've been getting out running a few times a week though. Plus I need a new bike. Keep bringing the updates...

I hear ya, but my personal philosophy is that I'm too stressed NOT to ride. Keeps me sane and efficient.

(pretty flat platitude if you really don't have time, but I just like sayin' it )

What kinda bike are you in the market for?

Troy

Yeah, it's all good. I feel the same way. That's the only thing that gets me out the door running these days. I'd be a basket case without that. Thanks for the push though Troy.

I dunno... I looked at them a couple years ago. I think I was lookin' at Cannondales and Treks at that time. Unfortunately, until I get my job thing down, I'm just lookin'. My neighbor got his frame (Specialized) and all the components for his ride from e-bay. Did his bike for about half of what it would've cost him new.

Yep, if you know what you're looking for you can save a bundle. I've just learned about bikes in the last year (bought my bike last July, never had one before then)... I'd probably be comfortable shopping online now because I have some very knowledgable resources to consult and because I've done some homework on various components, but when I got my bike I knew bupkus. So, I went to a recommended shop, asked for a recommended dude, and said, "I have $X, gimme." They gaveme. This is my baby, by the way:



I love it! LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Wow..... if I had a machine like that.... I might never come home!

Heh. Funny, I have a machine like that.... and it's a beautiful day.... and here I sit on my lazy ass. Go figure.

A very slow-ish 53 miles today... but stronger on the hills this time. Life is good.

You can go slow when you do that many miles. I am about to head out for 30 or so with the big group in Rock Hill.

How is it going, friends? The group ride Monday was pretty nice. I was a little too slow for the fast group, but I worked well with one or two guys about as fast as me. There are some nice flat roads south of Rock Hill. I decided to explore down there some more on my own yesterday, and I rode all the way to Chester and back. It turned out to be 85 km, or about 53 miles. It was the longest ride I've ever done by myself, and today I am feeling it, but it feels good. My goal is to build up distance in that direction until one day I just keep going and wind up at my parents' house in Columbia. Their reaction would be priceless. I figure the route I would take would be about 75-85 miles, so I've got a ways to go.

That's awesome, Dre! Get'em! 53 is just about the longest I've done (60 once I suppose, same same). It's a lot of fun feeling the weak legs, eh?

I'm taking a trip later this week and have been prepping for it, and not working out. At. All. When I get back, I'll get back into it. Keeps the roads warm for me!

Troy

Ok.... I broke the silence and did 20 today. It was such a beautiful day I broke out the Schwinn. Man, I need a new ride. Hopefully the business thing will work out and I can get a nice one. I've been running pretty consistently the last few weeks but felt like a change today. Glad I did. Nice to be back.

Wibbies back! I rode a 30-mile supported ride yesterday... good GAWD do I suck on the bike. Girlfriend did the 60-miler, and we were both pretty dead at the end. I need to get out more. Today, maybe.

I am frustrated these days at all the distractions keeping me from riding. I did go three days this week, but no more than 27 miles. I hope to go again today.

Must be you, 'cause that bike don't suck...

It is, without question me. But thanks for pointing it out.


()

Dre, I'm gonna run today.... let's plan a ride next weekend! Which day works for you?

ok folks.... I MAY be in a position to spend about $1k or so on a spiffy new road machine in a few weeks. I defer to your collective expertise.....

Trek 1500, 2100? CannondaleR800, R1000? New from a shop? Used? Ebay? Help!

Models and such, no clue. I'd say pick a material (aluminum, titanium, carbon, whatever) and then get the highest grade components and wheels on that material as possible. You'll definitely get more bike on eBay for the same price vs. a new one, IF you can trust the source as "good condition." But that's a crap shoot.

Wish I were more help,
Troy

PS: same as cash makes all carbon price like aluminum.

I have a Cannondale R900. Love...LOVE it, and have been loving it for 10 years now. Aluminum.

Fit and comfort are the most key elements whatever you do. You can always buy a good frame and switch out/upgrade components over time. Just make sure you get sized and buy a properly sized bike. I had a friend who bought one on eBay, and it was the wrong size. He injured himself because of it.

Replying to your NHL thread comment (didnt wanna hijack)... it's on the roof of the car, baby. Gonna do 30 or so today.

What about you? decision yet on the new wheels?

ahhh... I was afraid you let that go.... glad you're getting out. No decision yet. I hear there're a huge bike sale coming in the middle of July near me, but I may not want to wait that long.

Going out for 20+ today again, btw...

I could go Saturday, as long as it is early. I have to leave town by 3 or so.

Ghostwriter: I second what Julie said. I have a Trek 1500 frame, and I like it. I had a Trek 1200 from 1993, and rode it for more than 10 years (on and off), until the seatpost binding cracked a year and a half ago. Nowdays those are a separate piece from the frame, and thankfully so, because I already broke the one on my current frame after a year. But when I did brake the first frame, Trek gave me a new one for free, which was probably an upgrade of $600, so that won my loyalty for a while.

Thanks for the advice all. Maybe by July...

Got 16 in the hills today (as much as Michigan has hills). It was 91. I'm hot. Out.

OUTRAGE!!!!!

Well, they don't have Lance to kick around anymore...

I"m sure those French bastages will find some way to accuse him again. Its a lot easier than coming up with a great French cyclist again. At least one that can win. When was the last time they had a great French cyclist in fact? Last time I can remember it was Laurent Fignon in 90. Oh wait, he lost to Greg Lemond by 8 seconds in the final stage. Hehehehehehe.

Yeah, this whole thing is pretty messed up. I am kind of in shock. I look up to elite athletes too much, especially cyclists. I am supposed to ride with a group tomorrow, but I have very little motivation to go. I have tried to ignore the cynics who say the sport is dirty, but now I am very suspicious of everyone.

It's not about the elite athletes. Don't let the soap opera keep you off the bike!

In other news, my buddy took me to his hill loop (read: PAIN FACTORY) tonight. He normally does 5-7 loops, but after one I knew I was in a world of hurt. Each loop was about four miles, but that is the worst pain I've ever been in on a bike. I struggled mightily through three loops (but STAYED ON MY PEDALS THE WHOLE WAY). After the third loop, we did a 10 miler around the lake (much more forgiving grades).

I feel wonderful.

Now don't let those "politicians" steal your motivation. Get out there and RIDE!

Note: this post would've likely taken an entirely different turn had I not gotten out tonight.

OK, I've stayed outta this conversation in every circle I've heard it, until now. Here's my $0.02.

I believe Lance doped. I believe Basso did, Ulrich did, I believe that practically... if not literally.... ALL of them did. Or have. Maybe not this time, maybe not last year, or that test, or whatever. But I am convinced that enhancement is as prevalent in this sport as it is in, say, baseball. And all we're seeing now is more scrutiny, more attention, and better (and more militant) testing. So, are they guilty of this Spain thing? Dunno. But my guess is, they're all a little dirty. Face it folks... you could ride your bike a long, long time and never be anywhere, nowhere even close, to the guy who comes in dead last in the tour de France. Truly, it's superhuman. But maybe not supernatural.

Just my take.

Great take Troy (which I somewhat disagree with), but the bottom line is....

Whether they dope or whether they don't.... that 20 miler felt amazing tonight.
Out.

Agreed. Did 21 myself... felt pretty good! Going to the foothills to do some riding this weekend, hope to get out at least a couple of times. Hills rock.

Happy 4th, cyclists!

PS: watch the tour anyway. That dude you've never heard of is still really, really good.

I decided if the pros won't be my heroes I will be my own, so I rode to York, rode with the group 55 miles, and then rode back home. Those last 15 miles alone were pretty tough; I was longing to stop under every patch of shade on the road, which were not big and not many, since it was noon. That was the longest I have ever gone in a day, 136 km, about 85 miles, but I felt more tired after riding 53 miles solo. I still feel pretty empty, though, both physically and motivation-wise.

I was thinking about it tonight, and I realized the timing and the identification of the riders in this scandal seem a little sketchy. Consider these things:
1. The team directors agreed in January 2005 that any rider implicated in a doping investigation would be suspended or kept from racing while under investigation.
2. The operation first opened up more than a month ago, and for several weeks there has been talk of a "list of names" that are implicated.
3. Whoever had authority over the case waited until the day before the Tour de France started to release the names, guaranteeing that all the riders implicated would not be able to race, under the agreement of the team directors made last year.
4. All of the top 5 from last year's Tour (except Armstrong, of course) were named in the report: Basso, Ullrich, Mancebo, Vinokourov (Vino was not personally named, but pretty much the rest of his team was).

All of this suggests that it is a complex scheme of Team Gerolsteiner and Levi Leipheimer to get to the top of the podium . . . just kidding.

I heard Lance say on TV today that one thing he learned during his years in cycling was how to tell a good guy from a bad guy, really quick. With that in mind, I considered that Lance has said many times how highly he thinks of Basso as a person, and Ullrich as an athlete, so that if anyone in the peloton were to be dirty, if Armstrong has any judgment, they would be unlikely.

Maybe they are all dirty, but maybe there is some credence to what Armstrong said about the authorities that have been involved with dealing with the doping problems, that their hands are not spotless either. It just seems that these latest accusations against these individual riders have some kind of agenda behind them.

I agree with what has been said about the riders in the Tour being better than all of us, but I have a hard time admiring them when many or all of them are cheaters.

I read an article where the French are reportedly delighted at the scandal. They think that the doping is the reason that their teams/riders have sucked a$$ the past few years. I'd say they probably started this whole idiotic witch hunt. The timing is definitely suspect, since they didn't initiate anything until right before the Tour, basically jamminig up Ullrich, Basso, and Vino's teammates.

How does Landis miss his start? Buy a watch bro!

edit: I hear it was a bike problem at the start.... what rotten luck.

Nice to see big Geo. in the yellow!

Give Floyd a little credit. The man had a flat seconds before his start, lost 9 seconds, and STILL finished in 9th place for the day. Not bad.

I think I cried when Big George pulled on that jersey today. I may have still been crying for Thor, however. I hope all the bleeding was merely due to his heart rate being 175 when he got cut and not because the cut was severe enough to put him out of the race.

New plan! Going to London for the Prologue next year! Woot!


....ps, 4 weeks to the Lance Armstrong cancer ride. Any of you nice cycling supports who would like to make a donation, please see my signature.

Don't get me wrong, Landis is a contender. I was very impressed with his ability to recover from the late start. He'll be fine.

What a great first leg. I'm so excited about this years Tour, I've given myself the day off tomorrow to celebrate with a long hilly ride. All I need now is a new machine.... sooooooooon.

Who does everybody think is going to win now?

I think Hincapie looks really good, and Valverde was surprisingly good in the prologue. It would be good to see another American win, but for some reason I tend to pull for foreign riders more.

No predictions, Dre. Its just too much fun this way. Every guy out there thinks he's got a shot. Your boy Levi is being very quiet right now. Big George has had other tactics, and I couldn't be more pleased. I'm totally psyched that Thor is ok. Scary. Floyd probably has something in store for us. He's got great talent if he's learned to harness it.

Nope. No predictions. I'm just going to kick back and watch every day.

I love July.

Well said. I thought about it when Dre posted, but thought better of it. Just kicking back and enjoying the new drama each day.

On a side note... I did NOT get out today. So aggravating.......

Yeah, I didn't make a prediction either. I have no idea.

So who do you want to win?

I am pulling for Valverde. If that does not work out, Hincapie.