“Where have you guys been????” “When is the next podcast?” Well, we have been doing what we are supposed to be doing — namely, riding and racing our bicycles. There has also been time for the occasional beer, wakeboarding and waterskiing. A few highlights:
1) I took another crack at the Masters National Championships in Louisville. My teammate and partner (snicker away homophobes) won the tandem road race in convincing fashion. We were smarting from poor race tactics and non-communication last year when we came in 3rd so we regrouped, trained, shared, raised the rainbow flag of tandem pride and won ourselves a gold medal. To those of you who do laugh — and I know you’re out there — all I have to say is try it sometime beeotch. We did the road race the next day. I was 15th, OB was 10th.
2) Next, teammate (and tandem partner) O’brien and I embarked upon a reign of Masters and 1/2 racing terror the likes of which hasn’t been seen since Dean Carson and Kurt Buchwald dominated the Junior racing scene in the late ’70′s. Either OB or I won every race we entered. Culminating with a mustachiod two arm salute at the PUR Tour 1/2 crit.
3) At this point in the post I must make good on two promises (of plugs). First, there is an alternative to ebay, etc for getting rid of your used or new cycling equipment. Two local guys started a new site called Bicycle Monkey in auction fashion but with a charitable twist. Check it out, you’ll like it.
Second, my teammate (and partner… tandem that is) is going full gas with his coaching service. He is definitely not your meatgrinder, puppymill, you-must-fit-into-this-box kind of coach. He’s got tons of racing experience and is a good, hands on communicator. If you’ve been looking for a coach, he may be the one.
3) Lastly, a tale of woe turned joy. Last night after work I hurried home to change and catch the Wednesday group ride. Bike on roof rack, I cruised into my driveway. I’ve got little kids who like to put the adjustable basketball net all the way down. I do too for that matter. Anyway, my seat hooked the net and pulled the goal completely over. When it toppled it ripped the bike from my car leaving remnants of the fork still attached to the roof rack. Upon further inspection I discovered my rear clincher (Velocity Aerohead OC 28h) was cracked. Bummer… Self inflicted stupidity. I waited about an hour before tweeting the incident. Within 15 minutes of the tweet a guy in St. Louis offered to send me a replacement fork. He had wrecked his Spesh Tarmac and ruined everything BUT the fork. How cool is that? Moreover, he wouldn’t take a nickel for it. Then today I called Troy Watson, owner operator of Ligero Wheelworks, who built the wheels for me a few years back. They’ve been bombproof with well over 25k on them. He’s sending me a replacement rim at a killer discount. My faith is restored.
We will get to a new ‘cast very soon. Still a few road events to go before we ramp up the 2 Johns Cylcocross Cast.
Go to the Source – twojohnspodcast.missingsaddle.com
