So Team Radioshack have a Pro Tour Licence - excellent! Team Sky, still to announce another 6 riders - rumour mill still revolving on that one!
Gilbert tops off his season with back to back wins in Paris Tours & Gran Piemonte.
Only 259 days till the start of the TDF in Rotterdam - what am i going to do till then? Loving the look of the route - cycling brains needed for first week in the cobbles and definite legs / engines for the end in the pyrenees, although why is there another valley finish allowing all the gains to be chased down? No Alpe d'Huez but Col Du Tourmalet twice, plus a summit finish can't be bad.
Only 3 days cycling this week so vastly reduced mileage - starting to get dark as well, so rain and sludge soon to follow. Have purchased and fitted some Crud Road Racer mudguards, to alleviate some of the road spray etc from the forthcoming inclement weather, plus gained (not sure if that's the right word) a slow puncture mid week which was a definitive pain in the proverbial.
note that NABC saturday rides starting from thepub on the corner now fit with my days off so will be venturing out on some of those pre christmas, plus a couple of Audax rides look interesting too so who knows. Norwich 100 date has been published - June 6th so diary has been highlighted / ringed in red etc.
A potential 6 days cycling lined up for the week ahead so should / could achieve some decent mileage again for this next week - its all good.
Saturday, 17 October 2009
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Tour de France 2010 Route Announced
Running from Saturday July 3rd to Sunday July 25th 2010, the 97th Tour de France will be made up of 1 prologue and 20 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,600 kilometres.
These stages have the following profiles:
1 prologue, 9 flat stages, 6 mountain stages and 3 summit finishes, 4 medium mountain stage, 4 individual time-trial stage (59 km).
Distinctive aspects of the race - le Tourmalet climbed twice, a hint of the Classics and cobblestones, 2 rest days, 23 level 1, level 2 and highest level mountain passes.
Can't wait!
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Dope Testers start reaping the harvest in the off season
Dope testers 2 - Dopers 0.
Bosisio and Comardo first two cyclists to get caught. The only answr to not getting caught is not to do it in the first place - idiots!
Ban the teams too I say particularly when in Bosisio was a team mate of one D DiLuca...
In other news apparently male cyclists are popular with the nations women - http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/british-women-prefer-men-who-cycle-23514
Great to be back on two wheels, and am loving that sound my new wheels make - absolute silence, just a gentle whirr of the pedals...
Bosisio and Comardo first two cyclists to get caught. The only answr to not getting caught is not to do it in the first place - idiots!
Ban the teams too I say particularly when in Bosisio was a team mate of one D DiLuca...
In other news apparently male cyclists are popular with the nations women - http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/british-women-prefer-men-who-cycle-23514
Great to be back on two wheels, and am loving that sound my new wheels make - absolute silence, just a gentle whirr of the pedals...
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Repairs all done
So a week off the bike - allowing the crack in the head time to repair itself - it has pretty much healed, just a trademark scar to tell the grabndchildren about one day? Meanhile a cunningly timed pit stop was taking place in the background!
My set of wheels bought on ebay - just a pair of Bontrager Alloys (standard on a Trek 1.2) complete with brand new SRAM cassette, have been fitted to the bike, plus new chain and also a replacement rear gear cable.
Therefore bike and rider back to somewhere approaching their best, it all bodes well for an assault on mileage this next week, commencing with a club run tomorrow night with NABC - bring it on!
Currently sat here watching British Ironman on Channel 4 - always looks good and the mind often wanders about doing that inaugural triathlon, but still not sure about my swimming capabilities - particularly in open water - maybe you can do a relay team of three? - Just need to find a swimmer and a runner then!
Cycling season definately on a wind down. Franco Belge on at present and Farrar and Boonen finally get wins. All the big boys are pulling the curtains down on their seasons and pretty much only Paris-Tours yet to come. Roll on the transfer season and changes to team rosters. Where will Wiggo and Contador be in 2010, will Team Sky clinch either signature? Who else is joining Radioshack? Any other big surprises? Let's hope not but there are bound to be some close season doping scandals too.
Will be checking in next week hopefully with a decent amount of milege to report.
Laters
My set of wheels bought on ebay - just a pair of Bontrager Alloys (standard on a Trek 1.2) complete with brand new SRAM cassette, have been fitted to the bike, plus new chain and also a replacement rear gear cable.
Therefore bike and rider back to somewhere approaching their best, it all bodes well for an assault on mileage this next week, commencing with a club run tomorrow night with NABC - bring it on!
Currently sat here watching British Ironman on Channel 4 - always looks good and the mind often wanders about doing that inaugural triathlon, but still not sure about my swimming capabilities - particularly in open water - maybe you can do a relay team of three? - Just need to find a swimmer and a runner then!
Cycling season definately on a wind down. Franco Belge on at present and Farrar and Boonen finally get wins. All the big boys are pulling the curtains down on their seasons and pretty much only Paris-Tours yet to come. Roll on the transfer season and changes to team rosters. Where will Wiggo and Contador be in 2010, will Team Sky clinch either signature? Who else is joining Radioshack? Any other big surprises? Let's hope not but there are bound to be some close season doping scandals too.
Will be checking in next week hopefully with a decent amount of milege to report.
Laters
Sunday, 27 September 2009
World Championships - don't believe the hype
As the title says, don't get carried away on the media's pre competition hype. Sadly the Brits were woefully short of the mark and lo and behold Cadel Evans wins the men's title - not the nearly man after all then?
Still can't get my head around the world champion being decided upon one race but there that is how it is - although 19 laps of a 13.8km circuit must mess with your head somewhat.
In other domestic news - i managed to crack my head open on my own car boot, making rather a mess of my head (although the boot still works!) and have been advised to stay off the bike for a few days - also i need a repair done as i am currently locked in bottom gear on the cassette which is ok on the flat but a bit of a killer going uphill. Never mind at least my new wheels will arrive this week - all exciting stuff.
Still can't get my head around the world champion being decided upon one race but there that is how it is - although 19 laps of a 13.8km circuit must mess with your head somewhat.
In other domestic news - i managed to crack my head open on my own car boot, making rather a mess of my head (although the boot still works!) and have been advised to stay off the bike for a few days - also i need a repair done as i am currently locked in bottom gear on the cassette which is ok on the flat but a bit of a killer going uphill. Never mind at least my new wheels will arrive this week - all exciting stuff.
Saturday, 26 September 2009
I'm Spartacus
Spartacus - no not that 3 hour epic film from in the Ben Hur genre, but the pseudonym of Fabien Cancellara.
Of course i am reflecting on the TT World championships where he blitzed the opposition - caught up Wiggo by 2 mins and generally showed the rest of the world that you don't mess with the best. - all in all an awesome performance.
Word on the street is that he has his eyes set on the road race title too - so watch out world (the race is coming up later this weekend).
Commiserations to Wiggo though as a mechanical problem put paid to his chances of a possible 3rd - just where was that team car? Interesting post race interview too as he rumour mill continues to grind its conspiracy theories on his next years ride.
Keep an eye on the brit women too Emma Pooley and Nicole Cooke could feature in the womens race.
Of course i am reflecting on the TT World championships where he blitzed the opposition - caught up Wiggo by 2 mins and generally showed the rest of the world that you don't mess with the best. - all in all an awesome performance.
Word on the street is that he has his eyes set on the road race title too - so watch out world (the race is coming up later this weekend).
Commiserations to Wiggo though as a mechanical problem put paid to his chances of a possible 3rd - just where was that team car? Interesting post race interview too as he rumour mill continues to grind its conspiracy theories on his next years ride.
Keep an eye on the brit women too Emma Pooley and Nicole Cooke could feature in the womens race.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
A Good Week
Have had a good if not great week this wek - realy enjoying the cycling and even feel like my body is finally reacting positively to the exercise too!
Completed 143 miles on the bike this week and will definately break through the 4000 for the year next week!
Went out for my first club ride with NABC last night - just a trundle around the roads north of Norwich but good to ride in a group.
Enjoy speed? - Is that not the reason we all ride? - check this link out - http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/whpsc2009/results.htm
In other news Well done to Edvald Boasson Hagen for his Victory in the ToB - looking good for Team Sky next year, plus belated congratulations to DZ for the Tour of Missouri win and then there is the Vuelta - can't say i am happy that Valverde won but credit where its due - Evans gets a podium place too!
Looking forward to the Worlds - Britain has a strong male and female team - Come on!
Completed 143 miles on the bike this week and will definately break through the 4000 for the year next week!
Went out for my first club ride with NABC last night - just a trundle around the roads north of Norwich but good to ride in a group.
Enjoy speed? - Is that not the reason we all ride? - check this link out - http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/whpsc2009/results.htm
In other news Well done to Edvald Boasson Hagen for his Victory in the ToB - looking good for Team Sky next year, plus belated congratulations to DZ for the Tour of Missouri win and then there is the Vuelta - can't say i am happy that Valverde won but credit where its due - Evans gets a podium place too!
Looking forward to the Worlds - Britain has a strong male and female team - Come on!
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Forget Fantasy Football
Trek Bikes, have set up the facility on their website to design your own custom built Madone 5 or 6 Series bike - so much fun (the one pictured above would cost in the region of $8,000 but virtual bikes = virtual dollars so push your respective boat out and Go for it!)
If you really like the design you can print it off, e-mail it to friends or even place an order, the only down side appears that you have to occupy yourself for 30 days whilst it is built though - gonna be a long month...!
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Don't mess...
Cyclists - and i count myself proud to be amongst their number, are a good bunch of people and fiercely protective of their own. - Never more typified than this weekend following TV chef James Martin derogatory comments about cyclists in his sunday column in a story about test driving a sports car.
Robbie McEwen and Brad Wiggins amongst many other not quite so famous cyclists leapt a one to the internet to twitter scorn upon aforementioned chef as well as sabotage his Wikipedia page and seemingly crash his website aong with setting up a i hate James Martin Facebook page.
"Herbal Tea drinking, Harriet Harmon voting..bunch of City-boy ponces in fluorescent Spider-Man outfits..." - I think not Mr Martin!
Robbie McEwen and Brad Wiggins amongst many other not quite so famous cyclists leapt a one to the internet to twitter scorn upon aforementioned chef as well as sabotage his Wikipedia page and seemingly crash his website aong with setting up a i hate James Martin Facebook page.
"Herbal Tea drinking, Harriet Harmon voting..bunch of City-boy ponces in fluorescent Spider-Man outfits..." - I think not Mr Martin!
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Cycling Cycling everywhere
There is literally loads of Pro events on at the moment...
The Vuelta, with Valverde, Gesink and Evans holding the top 3 - embarassingly it is looking good for Valverde at present.
Tour of Missouri with DZ (of nuts fame) in the lead, Cav got another stage before pulling out with a lung infection. then of course the Tour of Britain pedalled off yesterday - Garmin boys look good, Wiggo leads out his team mate Chris Sutton for the win. - strangely you have to really delve deep into the recesses of teletext to get race reports - thank goodness for the internet - eurosport, bike radar etc.
As for me, 127 miles completed this week, looking forward to another good week ahead.
The Vuelta, with Valverde, Gesink and Evans holding the top 3 - embarassingly it is looking good for Valverde at present.
Tour of Missouri with DZ (of nuts fame) in the lead, Cav got another stage before pulling out with a lung infection. then of course the Tour of Britain pedalled off yesterday - Garmin boys look good, Wiggo leads out his team mate Chris Sutton for the win. - strangely you have to really delve deep into the recesses of teletext to get race reports - thank goodness for the internet - eurosport, bike radar etc.
As for me, 127 miles completed this week, looking forward to another good week ahead.
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