Universal Sports coverage of the Giro

First off, i'm loving the fact that Universal Sports will be broadcasting the Giro for the next 4 years. How refreshing it is to watch the race without all the extra stuff that Versus interrupts us with. I don't need to see what Lance had for breakfast every day.

Today I was watching stage 6 online and when they went to a commercial break the audio is still live. the link is here. If you skip to 13 minutes into the coverage you hear Scott and Todd making the call to Chris Carmichael and talking about what they will be talking about. The interesting thing to me was that it confirms that they are recording their commentary after the race is over. They talk about that with Chris and tell him not to talk about the ending of the stage. I have noticed more than once that they would "profile" the eventual winner of the stage before he was even in the break of the day. I was trying to figure out if they were just lucky of if they knew already. I guess we now know.

To all you drivers who think no one is watching

Tonight i wasn't able to make the thursday night barrington ride because i got stuck at work so on the way home i decided to drive part of the route to see if i would run into the group. I got my phone out so i could snap a shot of the group if I saw them. At around 6:25pm i was driving south on Hagers Bend Rd in the opposite direction the group would be coming. Sure enough I see the group ahead. I notice a silver Honda Odyssey passing the group and after it does it starts to weave and it appears to rapidly decrease it's speed a couple of times in front of them. so as they go by i snap a pic.

so to the thin haired white male driver in the grey shirt, think before you act out. someone could have been seriously injured and you would be in a big heap of trouble. it's not worth getting all mad because you had to wait a few seconds to pass a group of fathers, husbands, and overall great guys.

Team World Vision

For a couple of years now Team World Vision has had a great presence at the Chicago Marathon and i would like to help but running just is not an option for me. Well i found out yesterday that there is a Team World Vision event for us cyclists. It's coming up kind of quick but it's on June 7 for the Udder Century ride in McHenry county. For more info on the ride click here.

Pass the word around. i won't be able to do the ride cause i'll be at work and it's also the same day as the ABR crit championships in winfield but if you know anybody that might be interested please let them know.

If you haven't heard of World Vision their homepage is here. They are a partner of World Bicycle Relief.

Galena Trip

For the past 3 1/2 days i've been in Galena with the family. It was a great time of just hanging out together and decompressing. On monday and tuesday mornings i was on the bike at the crack of dawn to enjoy the roads this area has to offer. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate as well this time. Monday morning the temps were in the low 40's and it was very windy. The loop i rode is below.


One of the highlights of this loop is the gravel section on clark road. It feels like you're riding a part of the Monte Paschi Eroica in Italy.
The winds were really bad. Even on the descents the wind was so strong that it felt like you were on the flat sometimes if it was a headwind. When it was a cross wind you had to work really hard to keep the bike steady. It was pretty draining.

This route also features Blackjack Road which has some pretty killer climbs in it.

On tuesday morning i rode the following route.


It was about 10 degrees warmer which was nicer but it was still windy and rain was on it's way. Up by Scales Mound on Stagecoach Road is a huge rock that somebody painted all white and the painted "Jesus Saves" in red letters. While i agree with the message it's too bad that somebody thought that they could do a better job at proclaiming the Message better than God's own creation. it's a pretty big eyesore if you ask me.

Once i was back in the Eagle Ridge resort i came across this.

I'm pretty sure i was here last august and there was no falls so this was a surprise. About 5 minutes after this it started raining hard. For the last 20min i got pelted by heavy rain and high winds. Thankfully after a couple minutes it became just a steady rain and nothing to heavy. I got back completely soaked but there was bliss waiting for my bike.

The Bike Spa.


For more pics of some of the roads i was on click here. It's a motorcycle blog with some very nice photos.

Also on monday we went on one of the craziest family bike rides we've been on. Someone at the resort suggested that we ride on the golf cart trails since the courses were closed. We did that and had a ball for about 20min. It's like riding a rollercoaster. Pretty crazy. I was pulling Neil with the tag along and about 15min in said he wanted to come back here again. Then it started raining. We tried to get back as soon as we could but Neils comments turned to, "i don't ever want to do this again."

Cool behind the scenes with Garmin at Montepaschi Eroica

Montepaschi Eroica - Behind the Scenes with GARMIN Slipstream from Media One Multimedia on Vimeo.

Monte Paschi Eroica 2009

This is one of my favorite races of the year. Hopefully the coverage will be like that of the other classics but for now watch this.

Monte Paschi Eroica 2009 (1/2)
Uploaded by burnie87

Monte Paschi Eroica 2009 (2/2)
Uploaded by burnie87

Versus

Versus was just stupid today. Their feedback email address is feedback@versus.com

Tell them how much you liked what they did today.

Gatorade

Well i'm at it again. I got into another gatorade study, otherwise know as the SRAM order funding project and this morning was the first session. This is a more general study where you run on the treadmill, ride an elliptical, as well as an exercise bike, all for 30min each. This one is almost harder for me then last falls cycling study because of the running aspect. I basically only run if i'm getting paid for it. I can't recall the last time i ran for 30min. I'm talking decades. Last winter i got up to 15min on the treadmill as a warmup for weight lifiting sessions but never 30.

So needless to say i'm "feeling" it right now. It's actually not too bad cause i'm able to "run" at a speed that's just above speed walking so the knees actually did ok. Who knows, maybe this will make me a great cross racer next fall.

What's wrong with me?

So usually around this time each year a little phenomenon happens. While trying to force myself to do yet another dull ride in the basement on the rollers or the trainer I start thinking about a race next season. It's usually one of my goal races that i want to do well in and i start visualizing the attack and solo win that's going to take place in 2009. This usually marks the mental start of my season. This is when it starts to get easier to wake up early to get an hour in before work.

The problem this year is the race that i'm visualizing. It's the Fox River Grove Cycling Classic. It features one of the toughest climbs found in the chicago land area. It's a race that a 200+lbs guy has no business doing. But here i am treating this thing like an A race. For some stupid reason i love this course and love doing the race and i actually focus on it as one of my goals for the season. I guess i know how most triathletes must feel preparing for your biggest race of the year with the only goal of finishing better than last year.

But i still have to ask what the heck is wrong with me? Why don't i think about a race that's dead flat like Elk Grove? I guess the bottom line is i like hills even though i'm too big to even think about winning any of those races. Before long i'll be doing more laps of the ski hill than i can count.

Offseason update

It's been a long time since i updated so here's the cliff notes. In october I completed a study at Gatorade that was a great experience. It was hard but i gained a lot of info about myself and it was very interesting. It's looking like i'm going to be doing another one starting in Jan. so hopefully that can help fund some new upgrades to the bike.

Speaking of bikes I have been very blessed by a couple of people who gave me a mountain bike. First i was given an old cignal bike that was heavy but was rideable. I knew it was small for me and after riding it a while it was pretty clear that it wasn't going to be a bike i could really ride well on. Enter friend #2 who one day gives me an old Cannondale SM500 frame that's in great condition and after a couple of weeks of wrenching i have this.

I've been loving it and it adds such a nice alternative to just riding the rollers or the trainer in the basement. I've done a couple of fun snow rides and then today rode what was basically a cross practice at a park near my house using different obstacles as cross barriers. Today's ride also featured a ride of the dirt road that runs up the river valley from River Rd. It's full of ruts and a couple of turns and ever since i first found the road and drove it i wanted to ride it if i ever had a mountain bike. Problem was the 60 degree temps the other day didn't do much to this road as it was more like running up a bobsled run with a bike then an actual ride.

I've started weight training but have taken a break since i'm on a break from work and the gym is at work. I've yet to get an ice skateing session in yet and hopefully will be able to start that up next week.

That's all for now.

Great sports story

In a world of doping cyclists, pro athletes going to jail, and governors who think they can do whatever they want this story is such a breath of fresh air.

Bike Guitar Hero

All i can say is crazy.

See more funny videos and Technology Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Unauthorized use of tools

I came of for a new use for the Park SPA-2 pin spanner last night. It's great for removing a light bulb that has been shattered but the tip of the bulb is still in the socket.

Big Mistake

Ok. I made a big mistake today. I took my son Ryon and his bike, and myself with my wife's schwinn hybrid and went back to Carpenter Park and rode a few laps of the course. I never should have done that cause i think i'm hooked. I've never ridden cross before and actually before last years Carpenter Park race i had never even been to one. now i'm really gonna have to figure out how to get a cross bike together.

2008 Carpenter Cross

A lot has been happening since i've last posted. Mainly i've been doing a study at Gatorade every Monday that is pretty intense. I raced the Fall Fling time trial and other than Gatorade just been riding easy every couple of days.

Yesterday i took my dad and my kids to the Carpenter Park Cyclocross race. We had fun watching the 30+, 40+, and 50+ races as well as some of the Cat3 and women's race. The pics are below. enjoy.

Great World Bicycle Relief piece on the Today Show

Best new bike at interbike

My pick for the best bike.

Interbike

I'll try and get a full report done but for now here are some links to my pics and a video.

Cross Vegas pics

Interbike pics

Vegas Bound

I have arrived in vegas. The first two days will have me wearing my audio engineer hat as i will be touring some of the major theaters here. Tonight starts with the cirque show Love. Wed. And Thursday will be interbike!!!

Gatorade / Interbike

So a lot has been happening lately. After the body shut down at Downers Grove i took a good couple of weeks off. I still rode but every ride was a recovery ride and i skipped days at a time. it was refreshing and just as i put a little training plan together to make a stab at the Fall Fling, Gatorade called.

I've been doing studies for a couple years now and finally got called for a cycling study. Long story short last week was a really busy week. In the span of 4 days i had a vo2max test, Lactate Threshold test, as well as a stress test. The study is very demanding physically but also a lot of fun. As a result i've totally scrapped my training plans and am just concentrating on this study as it will take me thru the end of october. Because of the requirements of this study i can't exercise at all on sundays (i go in every monday) so the fall fling crits are out. There's still a slight chance that i could do the time trial on the 4th. If it works out for me to do it it would make me happy cause i should have some great form from this stuff.

Also next week i go to Vegas!!!! It's gonna be an awesome trip. I get to see some great shows as well as attend Interbike (thanks Gatorade), the cycling industry trade show. I will definately be writing a post about the trip and have tons of pics of all the latest gear. i will only be there for 1 day of interbike but i will also get to go watch cross-vegas so that will be fun.