As I was getting off the plane here in Las Vegas for Interbike, I though: "Hmmm, am I getting a scratchy throat?" Sure enough over the next 12 hours the truth be known. Yes, whether it was a post-exercise-induced ailment, or just a regular cold, or a reaction to the forced air on the airplane I did come down with a cold. Damn.
The good news is that the worst part was Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning....now by Friday I'm feeling a great bit better, and this trip was not a time for feeling down on one's self. (the Debate just finished and I'm writing this at the World's Largest Super 8 Motel, pretty cool huh?)
I won't post a bunch of photos here, you'll have to go to www.fixedgeargallery.com to see some of the (eventually) 500+ photos from Interbike.
Last evening there were two major events:
1.The Finals of the US Criterium Series in the parking lot behind Mandalay Bay. Ten thousand people screaming...local Michigan man Mark Hekman from Grand Rapids at or near the front throughout the 60 lap race including taking a $500 Prime with about 8 laps to go. Nothing like a 6'5" red-bearded viking-lookalike to put some fear in the peleton.
2. Next up was an Alley Cat sponsored by Mash. 5 miles straight down Las Vegas Boulevard with a finish at Mandalay Bay. No brakes allowed, no brains a requirement. Sorry if I'm coming along a bit strong about it, but putting people's lives in danger for a winner-take-all $1,000.00 prize is, well, irresponsible. Want to force municipalities to outlaw alley cats? Here's the best way. Gallery advertiser, Rich Craig from ProWheelBuilder competed and finished 10th (or so, he thought) by taking a little traveled industrial drive that added a mile or so, but allowed this Cat 2 road racer to put the hammer down on a 53x16. What Rich didn't count on was having to ride right through a casino because there was a Boulevard checkpoint for which he missed the sidestreet (local knowledge is always a bonus in any alleycat.)
a shot from the women's race..........
and the last 2 laps of the men's crit filmed off the big screen.....
Friday, 26 September 2008
Sunday, 21 September 2008
A long weekend....
Among the ten thousand other things that happened over the weekend, there was a criterium here in Traverse City on Saturday - the 1st downtown race in many many years. http://www.cherry-roubaix.com/
Always wanting to support local events, I figgered I'd better pony up an entry for myself. No crit specialist I, and without a current USCF license (I was a Cat 4 in '01, tho I raced only in Masters 55+ events) , I check off the box for the dreaded Cat 5/Citizen's Class - a field that could be fun and could be a train wreck. Hey folks, I'm not likely to be even remotely competitive since half of the field is nearly 1/3 my age!
The course included a few blocks of brick streets, six turns, and a pretty fast short course. No, they wouldn't let me ride a fixed gear - This was the 1st year for this event and if the city had allowed the street closures to be a bit earlier, the organizers would have included a fixed gear class !!!!! There's always next year.
My only goal was to put in a few laps, heep the rubber down, and be alive for Sunday's hilly fixed century with Lost Gears at the Leelanua Harvest Tour in Leelanau County. (more about that later)
So, for the Criterium - Goals accomplished, crashes avoided, dead last finish.
Sunday sees LostGears and I headed 25 miles out to Glen Lake School for the Leelanau Harvest Tour. In 1991 I rode my first full century at the LHT, and in 2001 I rode my first fixed gear century at this event.
So, as usual LostGears honks his way up every hill and stretches my tongue to the max in the early miles. Somehow we'd missed hooking up with my geared friends...did they ride the Metric? At the first food stop at 22miles My rear tire blows, and we screw with that for way way too long and finally see a sidewall tear in the Continental 2000. Yikes - some pretty fast spun-out descents we'd already ridden today. Better to have a blowout at a food stop we all said.
Maybe we missed my friends along in here somewhere, nevertheless, a gorgeous day. Lost Gears riding his Coppi with a 42x15 and me on the Milwaukee with a 49x16. We were suitably wasted at the finish - maybe I'll scrounge up some photos, neither of us packed a camera for either event.
Off to Las Vegas on Tuesday morning for Interbike, and Lost Gears is off Monday morning for Virginia. Here in Michigan it's about to turn colder. We'll be riding in the woods before long.
Always wanting to support local events, I figgered I'd better pony up an entry for myself. No crit specialist I, and without a current USCF license (I was a Cat 4 in '01, tho I raced only in Masters 55+ events) , I check off the box for the dreaded Cat 5/Citizen's Class - a field that could be fun and could be a train wreck. Hey folks, I'm not likely to be even remotely competitive since half of the field is nearly 1/3 my age!
The course included a few blocks of brick streets, six turns, and a pretty fast short course. No, they wouldn't let me ride a fixed gear - This was the 1st year for this event and if the city had allowed the street closures to be a bit earlier, the organizers would have included a fixed gear class !!!!! There's always next year.
My only goal was to put in a few laps, heep the rubber down, and be alive for Sunday's hilly fixed century with Lost Gears at the Leelanua Harvest Tour in Leelanau County. (more about that later)
So, for the Criterium - Goals accomplished, crashes avoided, dead last finish.
Sunday sees LostGears and I headed 25 miles out to Glen Lake School for the Leelanau Harvest Tour. In 1991 I rode my first full century at the LHT, and in 2001 I rode my first fixed gear century at this event.
So, as usual LostGears honks his way up every hill and stretches my tongue to the max in the early miles. Somehow we'd missed hooking up with my geared friends...did they ride the Metric? At the first food stop at 22miles My rear tire blows, and we screw with that for way way too long and finally see a sidewall tear in the Continental 2000. Yikes - some pretty fast spun-out descents we'd already ridden today. Better to have a blowout at a food stop we all said.
Maybe we missed my friends along in here somewhere, nevertheless, a gorgeous day. Lost Gears riding his Coppi with a 42x15 and me on the Milwaukee with a 49x16. We were suitably wasted at the finish - maybe I'll scrounge up some photos, neither of us packed a camera for either event.
Off to Las Vegas on Tuesday morning for Interbike, and Lost Gears is off Monday morning for Virginia. Here in Michigan it's about to turn colder. We'll be riding in the woods before long.
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
Thought I'd share a couple of the postcards that I've gotten from viewers lately. {click the postcards for enlargements}
Dennis - I love the site! I haven't put up my bikes up yet, but I will soon. I saw thought you'd like it. Please post if you can.
Nick O'Brien - Valparaisa, Chile - Louisville, Kentucky
Next up.........
This from Tracy Halacinski from Denver Colorado.
Dennis & Katy
Thank you for being such gracious hosts for the informal fixedgear get together last week. As always, it was a great time. The only downside is having to come home and face reality. Katy, thank you for the "Cardinal & Pals" - how thoughtful of you and I love it. I can listen and think of Michigan any time. Again Thank you.
Same time next year...
Tracy
Dennis - I love the site! I haven't put up my bikes up yet, but I will soon. I saw thought you'd like it. Please post if you can.
Nick O'Brien - Valparaisa, Chile - Louisville, Kentucky
Next up.........
This from Tracy Halacinski from Denver Colorado.
Dennis & Katy
Thank you for being such gracious hosts for the informal fixedgear get together last week. As always, it was a great time. The only downside is having to come home and face reality. Katy, thank you for the "Cardinal & Pals" - how thoughtful of you and I love it. I can listen and think of Michigan any time. Again Thank you.
Same time next year...
Tracy
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
HammerSchmidt
One of our viewers, Brandon, alerted me to this new piece of mechanical gear from TruVativ - While it doesn't say anywhere in this Cycling News article if there is any freewheel capability, I don't think there's anything in the expoded views that even remotely looks like pawls.
click here to go the Cyclingnews.com article.
As Brandon says "Maybe we don’t have to wait for SunRace/Sturmey to re-make the ASC after all…"
click here to go the Cyclingnews.com article.
As Brandon says "Maybe we don’t have to wait for SunRace/Sturmey to re-make the ASC after all…"
Monday, 18 August 2008
On inflation and kissing the Moose.
Last Tuesday after our Tues/FG ride, Erin and Carl and I decided to go get something to eat and a beer. Where to go?
Hmm, someone said "Let's go to Sleder's." I've been going there for bean soup for 40 years, hadn't been there for a while, so we all agreed and off we went.
Talking and laughing about the ride while we ordered, we were having a good time. Carl ordered a Newcastle and I said the same. Erin ordered an appetizer like fried mushrooms or something and we each ordered a burger and fries or onion rings. We glanced through the menu - I remember seeing 1/3 lb Olive Burger $7.50 and thought that looked good. The food came, we wolfed it down, laughing about all the times I'd taken them down to the skatepark in Kalamazoo when they were in Junior High (both 25 now) and about Spencer breaking his collarbone, etc.
So eventually we're done and the bill comes and it's 68 bucks !!!! (and some change)
I'm looking at it and they say "what's wrong?" I pass the bill and we all look at amazement at the totals. Mind you this is your basic 1890 bar/restaurant with stuffed animals on the walls, century-old bar front, and the same table and chairs as been here since I first had luch here in 1971 or so.
Yup:
Newcastle - $7
Olive Burger - %7.50
Deluxe - $4 EXTRA
Fries - $4 EXTRA
We coulda gone to 20 other (nicer) places in town Patisserie Ami, Stella, name it and we could have had way better for $5 less - mind you his was basic burger, fries, and a beer.
What's that kinda stuff cost where you live?
Fuck Sleder's is what I say
Last Tuesday after our Tues/FG ride, Erin and Carl and I decided to go get something to eat and a beer. Where to go?
Hmm, someone said "Let's go to Sleder's." I've been going there for bean soup for 40 years, hadn't been there for a while, so we all agreed and off we went.
Talking and laughing about the ride while we ordered, we were having a good time. Carl ordered a Newcastle and I said the same. Erin ordered an appetizer like fried mushrooms or something and we each ordered a burger and fries or onion rings. We glanced through the menu - I remember seeing 1/3 lb Olive Burger $7.50 and thought that looked good. The food came, we wolfed it down, laughing about all the times I'd taken them down to the skatepark in Kalamazoo when they were in Junior High (both 25 now) and about Spencer breaking his collarbone, etc.
So eventually we're done and the bill comes and it's 68 bucks !!!! (and some change)
I'm looking at it and they say "what's wrong?" I pass the bill and we all look at amazement at the totals. Mind you this is your basic 1890 bar/restaurant with stuffed animals on the walls, century-old bar front, and the same table and chairs as been here since I first had luch here in 1971 or so.
Yup:
Newcastle - $7
Olive Burger - %7.50
Deluxe - $4 EXTRA
Fries - $4 EXTRA
We coulda gone to 20 other (nicer) places in town Patisserie Ami, Stella, name it and we could have had way better for $5 less - mind you his was basic burger, fries, and a beer.
What's that kinda stuff cost where you live?
Fuck Sleder's is what I say
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Harry Manx and Dawn Campbell
DUNEGRASS FESTIVAL- Empire Michigan
Sunburn city...........................o'yeah......
I'm a new fan of Harry Manx - he's been around for quite a while I guess, really, what the hell do I know about anything anyway. Cripes there's only 24 hours n the day, ya'know.
Anyway, lots of his CDs available on-line - Nice website - fantastic picker. Dobro, slide, and zillion-stringed Indian guitar. Wow. Here's a clip.................btw, I rode out to Empire and back today, sorry not fg tho, a bit too hilly, and I was trying to make good time. 2007 Symp attendees will remember the route out to Glen Have and know why I rode geared.
Anyway, once I got back around 6pm and upload Monday's bikes, it was time for the closing party for the Traverse City Film Festival right here on the lawn outside my window. Michael Moore, Madonna (nope, sorry she was her last night and gone today) tho Katy has been the house manager for the State Theatre (midnight shift till 2 am) and she actually saw Madonna last night at the premier for her new docmentary - Katy was not exactly thrilled as you might imagine) - anyway the closing party was tonight - Ken and Sara Heike form OK City arrived early for the Faux-Symp and attended tho they seemed to disappear a bit early -- they flew in today - a little jet lag Ken?
Anyway, if you look at Hell-Yes and see Colin wearing the One World Army Tee - this is his mom singing at the party - o'yes, it's his mom.............Dawn Campbell - she totally rocks it out, eh?
o sorry to ramble a bit, it's 12:13 and I've been up since 8 and too much vodka (again) from Grand Traverse Distillery http://www.grandtraversedistillery.com/
These youtube videos are taking so long to upload I might have to go over to Left Foot Charley's for the afterglow - look-out boys, it's just a few wine chasers.
See ya, have a great week.....................................
/d
Next in my non-stop partying this week
Sunburn city...........................o'yeah......
I'm a new fan of Harry Manx - he's been around for quite a while I guess, really, what the hell do I know about anything anyway. Cripes there's only 24 hours n the day, ya'know.
Anyway, lots of his CDs available on-line - Nice website - fantastic picker. Dobro, slide, and zillion-stringed Indian guitar. Wow. Here's a clip.................btw, I rode out to Empire and back today, sorry not fg tho, a bit too hilly, and I was trying to make good time. 2007 Symp attendees will remember the route out to Glen Have and know why I rode geared.
Anyway, once I got back around 6pm and upload Monday's bikes, it was time for the closing party for the Traverse City Film Festival right here on the lawn outside my window. Michael Moore, Madonna (nope, sorry she was her last night and gone today) tho Katy has been the house manager for the State Theatre (midnight shift till 2 am) and she actually saw Madonna last night at the premier for her new docmentary - Katy was not exactly thrilled as you might imagine) - anyway the closing party was tonight - Ken and Sara Heike form OK City arrived early for the Faux-Symp and attended tho they seemed to disappear a bit early -- they flew in today - a little jet lag Ken?
Anyway, if you look at Hell-Yes and see Colin wearing the One World Army Tee - this is his mom singing at the party - o'yes, it's his mom.............Dawn Campbell - she totally rocks it out, eh?
o sorry to ramble a bit, it's 12:13 and I've been up since 8 and too much vodka (again) from Grand Traverse Distillery http://www.grandtraversedistillery.com/
These youtube videos are taking so long to upload I might have to go over to Left Foot Charley's for the afterglow - look-out boys, it's just a few wine chasers.
See ya, have a great week.....................................
/d
Next in my non-stop partying this week
Saturday, 2 August 2008
Anvil
Many of you know that this week it's been all about the Traverse City Film Festival - trying to organize one's life around a five day deluge of great films that you're not likely to see anywhere besides Cannes, Aspen, or Toronto. Thanks to Michael Moore, who just happens to live here, we've been lucky to see Borat (even before the US premier), Kite Runner, and way too many other films to tell you about in this little blog. This is the 4th year for the TCFF and it's bigger and better than ever.
Films I've seen this week include Up The Yangstze..... an astonishing documentary about the ongoing Three Gorges Dam project on the Yangtze, China's longest river.
Four Months, Three Weeks, and Two Days which is against a stark, urban backdrop in late-80’s Romania (two years before revolution removed communist leader Ceausescu from power), this masterful film follows the college student Otilia (in an Oscar-worthy performance by Anamaria Marinca) as she helps her roommate Gabita procure an abortion from the black market. Mongol : Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign film, this stunning epic action film by acclaimed Russian director Sergei Bodrov recounts the formative years of a young Genghis Khan.
But maybe the one film that stuck the deepest was the one I saw last night. Ever heard of the band Anvil? Me neither.
Their story is simply what we all face in our lives - the need to do something worthwhile and to have people like and respect what we do. To get real philosophical about it....it's the human struggle.
From the on-line notes for the TCFF......................
Even if you are about as metal as your aunt, you will be spellbound by "Anvil! The Story of Anvil," which is not just much better than most music documentaries, it's much better than most documentaries, period. You will laugh, but you will also be inspired to think and feel, and perhaps you will be literally moved to the edge of tears by the complicated-simple, stupid-smart, goofy-serious story that it tells thanks to Sacha Gervasi's inspired and impressive direction. Anvil, a band known as the “demigods of Canadian metal,” released one of the heaviest albums in metal history, 1982’s "Metal on Metal." The album influenced a musical generation, including Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, and went on to sell millions of records. This amazing documentary follows the criminally overlooked Canadian band -- a group whose core members started playing together in high school and are still going strong 35 years later. After nearly making it big, sharing the stage with acts like Whitesnake and Bon Jovi, the band has continually fallen just short of stardom, but hasn't given up on the rock-n-roll dream. A touching portrait of this real-life Spinal Tap, the film focuses equal attention on music, friendship, and the blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into keeping this duo together for decades. Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the L.A. Film Festival, the Galway Film Festival, and others. Following both screenings of the film, the band will perform a short live set on stage. And catch them later on Friday night at Union Street. This is a rare event not to be missed."
Metal On Metal .....1983
Their latest album is available on-line at www.anvilmetal.com
Many of you know that this week it's been all about the Traverse City Film Festival - trying to organize one's life around a five day deluge of great films that you're not likely to see anywhere besides Cannes, Aspen, or Toronto. Thanks to Michael Moore, who just happens to live here, we've been lucky to see Borat (even before the US premier), Kite Runner, and way too many other films to tell you about in this little blog. This is the 4th year for the TCFF and it's bigger and better than ever.
Films I've seen this week include Up The Yangstze..... an astonishing documentary about the ongoing Three Gorges Dam project on the Yangtze, China's longest river.
Four Months, Three Weeks, and Two Days which is against a stark, urban backdrop in late-80’s Romania (two years before revolution removed communist leader Ceausescu from power), this masterful film follows the college student Otilia (in an Oscar-worthy performance by Anamaria Marinca) as she helps her roommate Gabita procure an abortion from the black market. Mongol : Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign film, this stunning epic action film by acclaimed Russian director Sergei Bodrov recounts the formative years of a young Genghis Khan.
But maybe the one film that stuck the deepest was the one I saw last night. Ever heard of the band Anvil? Me neither.
Their story is simply what we all face in our lives - the need to do something worthwhile and to have people like and respect what we do. To get real philosophical about it....it's the human struggle.
From the on-line notes for the TCFF......................
Even if you are about as metal as your aunt, you will be spellbound by "Anvil! The Story of Anvil," which is not just much better than most music documentaries, it's much better than most documentaries, period. You will laugh, but you will also be inspired to think and feel, and perhaps you will be literally moved to the edge of tears by the complicated-simple, stupid-smart, goofy-serious story that it tells thanks to Sacha Gervasi's inspired and impressive direction. Anvil, a band known as the “demigods of Canadian metal,” released one of the heaviest albums in metal history, 1982’s "Metal on Metal." The album influenced a musical generation, including Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, and went on to sell millions of records. This amazing documentary follows the criminally overlooked Canadian band -- a group whose core members started playing together in high school and are still going strong 35 years later. After nearly making it big, sharing the stage with acts like Whitesnake and Bon Jovi, the band has continually fallen just short of stardom, but hasn't given up on the rock-n-roll dream. A touching portrait of this real-life Spinal Tap, the film focuses equal attention on music, friendship, and the blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into keeping this duo together for decades. Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the L.A. Film Festival, the Galway Film Festival, and others. Following both screenings of the film, the band will perform a short live set on stage. And catch them later on Friday night at Union Street. This is a rare event not to be missed."
Metal On Metal .....1983
Their latest album is available on-line at www.anvilmetal.com
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