Riding, is it Really Cheaper than Driving?

Posted on March 6, 2012 by norbs

I am starting to wonder.

Ping, there goes $80!

That is the second spoke to go on the front in 2 weeks. Both times under braking. So, $80 for all new DT Swiss spokes and to get the wheel rebuilt. Then this morning, I got to work and went to turn off the rear light only to find it had abandoned ship at some point in the ride. $50 for a replacement. Plus the loss of 2 rechargeable batteries. I am out of chamois cream. $30 for some Aussie Butt cream. There goes $160 in a blink. A new set of tyres every 9 months or so. $80. I am keen on getting some merino base layers, but after seeing the price, I am thinking I will just drive to work in winter. Being a known tight arse doesn’t help.

Please, some one tell me it is worth the cost. Lucky I love riding.

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Alby does Bike Riders Can't Cook

Posted on March 6, 2012 by norbs

So far I have found 3 YouTube videos from GreenEdge’s series, Bike Riders Can’t Cook. This is the first. Check out McEwen at the end. 🙂

More GreenEdge videos on YouTube. Mitch Dockers spicy sausages are killer.

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Paris-Nice – 2012 – Stage 2 Results

Posted on March 6, 2012 by norbs

Paris-Nice – 2012.

 

Stage Results

Click for full size

Overall.

Click for full size

 

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Paris-Nice 2012 Stage 2

Posted on March 5, 2012 by norbs

Paris-Nice 2012 Stage 2.

Last night Gustav Larsson (Vacansoleil-DCM) managed to best Bradley Wiggins (Sky) by a second in the ITT. Sure, he had the weather on his side, but I bet he wont mention that in 50 years talking to his grandkids. Anyone want to tell me what Levi Leipheimer is on? He just gets faster the older he gets!

Stage 1 Results
1 LARSSON, Gustav (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) 11′ 19″
2 WIGGINS, Bradley (SKY PROCYCLING) + 00′ 01″
3 LEIPHEIMER, Levi (OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP) + 00′ 04″
4 VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING) + 00′ 09″
5 DE GENDT, Thomas (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) + 00′ 12″
6 CHAVANEL, Sylvain (OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP)
7 TAARAMAE, Rein (COFIDIS, LE CREDIT EN LIGNE) + 00′ 13″
8 IRIZAR ARANBURU, Markel (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN)
9 PAURIOL, Rémi (FDJ-BIG MAT) + 00′ 15″
10 COPPEL, Jerome (SAUR – SOJASUN)

For the Aussies reading…

Great work Cycling Central.

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Dave Got Wet

Posted on March 5, 2012 by norbs

My mate Dave posted this on a cycling forum last week. I thought it was good enough to share.

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Being Friday I took off early and decide to take the long route home despite the rain.

http://app.strava.com/activities/4686064

I had a great ride and felt like a kid playing in the rain. BUT I wasn’t expecting the bike path near home to so far under water.

Most of it was only pedal deep.

Then I came across a bit that I knew would be very deep. At this point I was 3km from home and 15km if turned back and went the long way. So I kept pedalling. I kew I was in trouble when the bike stared floating.

So I got off and pushed on through waist deep water. Oh well, I was pretty wet anyway.

What a great adventure. For what it’s worth the inside of the pannier remained dry, my iPhone stayed safe and dry in its iBike holder (I was a bit nervous when taking it out for the photos) and my bike is now towelled down and safe in the garage. The whole reason I built the titanium commuter was so I could ride to work in all conditions, this week it has proved itself perfect for the task. 🙂

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Thanks Dave for a great story and photos. Apparently the bike is fine. Dave pulled the bottom bracket apart and reports all is ok.

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Paris-Nice 2012 – ITT Results

Posted on March 5, 2012 by norbs

Paris-Nice 2012 – Finish Times.

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S.T.S.S. What is it?

Posted on March 4, 2012 by norbs

So often on bike forums, some one will show a photo of their new bike, and then some armchair Eddie Merckx will say “Slam the stem!!!!”. Sweet baby jesus, it drives me mad. Don’t these champions of the keyboard realise not everyone is built to use a slammed stem. Take this little beauty for instance.

Click for more stem slammage goodness.

If I did that to my bike, I would get 200m up the road and be gasping for breath, and that is on the hoods. To get to the drops would need 6 years intensive yoga, a Shiatsu massage and a handful of Nurofen. That or Elle Macpherson’s legs, Verne Troyer’s torso and a rubber neck.

So next time you see a photo of a persons brand new bike, if you feel the need to scream Slam That Stem, take a moment to think about the other 99% of people that can’t ride a bike configured like that. Don’t succumb to S.T.S.S. (Slam The Stem Syndrome). It doesn’t make you cool, but it will make you sound like a bike snob.

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2012 Paris-Nice Live Video, Route, Teams, Results, Photos, TV

Posted on March 4, 2012 by norbs

Spring time in Paris. This race is also know as the Race to the Sun. I like to think of it as the Sean Kelly race. He won it 7 times running. Once the Paris-Nice is under way, you know the cycling season is on.

2012 Paris-Nice Live Video, Route, Teams, Results, Photos, TV.

And here is a video from last year, stage 7 in the wet.

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2012 Strade Bianche Live Video, Route, Teams, Results, Photos, TV

Posted on March 3, 2012 by norbs

Everything you need to stream the Strade Bianche race tonight.

2012 Strade Bianche Live Video, Route, Teams, Results, Photos, TV.

For just a taste of what can happen when it rains, check this out from The Giro d’Italia 2010.

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Cycling Central is Streaming Stade Bianche and Paris Nice.

Posted on March 3, 2012 by norbs

This is great news.

Looks like there are a few late nights ahead.

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