i deserve pie ride

[hum, pie]

[this is where the tour of california should go, sissies]

today was one of those grueling rides that always stays with you and afterwards you look back and smile. it was a great day in the east county [san diego] and i set out to earn my piece of pie today. it felt good to hit the roads this morning as i headed out east of la mesa to do the east county hill climb ride. the roads were clear of angry drivers and the traffic was very light, for at least 2 hours, i think i saw 3 cars [that is unique in so-cal] as i climbed some of my favorite hills. i hope everyone had a great thanksgiving and got a chance to hit the roads to put in some quality miles. ok, i am bushed after eating thanksgiving dinner [which i also got up early and fixed], it's time for a nap, i'm older than ekimov.


[click on the ? above to view the hybrid map of the 'i deserve pie ride'

new trash talk: landis

French anti-doping agency links Floyd Landis to recent hack attack

Chatanay-Marlboroy officials announced today they had solved the mystery surrounding how their server security was breeched, resulting in several emails being sent out to various sport governing bodies this past weekend. One representative allegedly stated, "Clearly there was violation in the rules. Someone broke our security, and this is shocking. We believe we have sufficient evidence that includes a receipt from a gas station in the U.S. near the city of Long Beach, California, not far from where Floyd resides. Furthermore, a University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) library card was reported missing that same day. We're also pretty sure a library computer from this same campus was used to access a personal hotmail account around the time the emails were sent from our server. Based on this, it is clear that Mr. Landis, or someone very close to him, purchased petrol that evening, drove to the UCLA grounds, infiltrated their network, and used their computer to mount an attack on our laboratory. It's shameful."

However, it is reported that the official mentioned that the previous Friday, there was a surprise birthday party for a colleague and someone forgot to lock the office over the weekend. Nevertheless, lab officials also pointed out that Mr. Landis has simply not been nice in his defense, nor has he played fair. "For his defense, M. Landis uses all the legal means that he wants. If he reveals that the laboratory made errors - formal, or substantial - it would be good if we were officially informed so that we could respond, on the form or on the substance (of the accusations). Normally we respond to a polite request, or even a stern memo. I prefer sticky pads myself, I'm sure we received one. I'd have to ask my secretary to be sure though.

[for the rest of the story go to trashtalk ]

i thought so

i was just telling greg the other day as we contemplated world peace, why all the drivers in LA are angry [even on a sunday morning] and the current state of riders in the us pro peloton, mainly if juan would jump ship and go across the pond to euroland. after giving a lengthy and somewhat carb deficient dissertation on the pros and cons of unilateralism, that i bet CSC is going to get jose. hum, i should of bet the lottery that day....

"CSC have signed 25-year-old Argentine sprinter Juan Jose Haedo to a two-year contract, the Danish team announced on Friday."

the rest of the story at: eurosport

18%

[gotta love climbing in so-cal, purdy]

the wednesday climbingfest turned into a brutal 18% slugfest. greg and i headed out via a shortcut to the valley, which means it was straight up, like all of our shortcuts. we than made our way to chevy chase and continued up to the top, where the private girls academy is [see picture]. then out to foothill, down [more like up] to sunland and back across the valley to barham and to the team headquarters in the hollywood hills. all in all about 3500ft of climbing at an average gradient of 12%, with at least 2000' at 16%+.


[greg checking out the rosebowl, or was it the girls vollyball team?]

one great video

this is probably the best video on youTube right now. watch over and over and over.
UPDATE: youTube is not playing nice with blogger right now, here is the direct link to the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-KueBsUAEo

basso on mulholland

[photo: graham watson, used with out permission as this is a silly blog and i have no money for paid media, so go buy something at his site http://grahamwatson.com/ ]

check out basso on mulholland [?], no sooner had i been tauting graham's words on basso, he was out taking photo's of him in his new kit and bike. think basso had been thinking about discovery for awhile? check out all of his private sponsor gear in discovery blue and grey. good luck ivan and thanks for foiling another french plot to get rid of the best riders. oh a word to the wise, were a helmet in LA, for that matter everywhere, kids are looking. helmets are COOL and they have saved my life more than once, cars hurt.

graham on basso

for a good take and possibly a different take than most of the media [that is if graham is part of the media] on discovery signing basso, read 'grahams view' at [and buy something]:

http://grahamwatson.com/news/grahamsnotes06.html

big tujunga canyon road

[looking up at our morning commute]

today was epic, an awesome mountain climbing day with greg. we struck out for big tujunga canyon road after warming up through burbank and than up sunland. big t starts off nice and sweet, if you asked she probably would serve you up a nice cool drink and a picnic lunch. but give her time, as she gradually gets mean and than is a down right nasty bitch of climb. we cruised through some scenic camp grounds and washs [empty rocky rivers for those not in so-cal] and the whole time thinking that it is turning out to be a sunday stroll through the park, instead of our wednesday mountaineering expeditions. well it didn't take long for her to turn from 5% to 8% to 10% than a nice decent, than 12% than 14% than 16%. we finally made it to angeles crest highway [which by the way is freshly paved] and decented down to smelLA. all in all a wonderful way to suffer and hurt through a gorgeous day in so-cal [95+]. word to the wise, if you like going fast to PV or poping over the short steep hollywood hill's climbs, you may not enjoy big tujunga canyon road, as it is like an extra long piuma with 2 - 3 stunt roads added at the end [sorry LA talk].


[digging the scene, during my morning commute]


[a cool 50's bridge, no this is not the coast highway]


[greg basking in the heavens as he climbs one of many 14% grade]


[the tujunga dam and reservoir]

two trade shows

[a little background on my little post today, eurobike is looking to have a trade show in the usa, around the same time as interbike, this has been all the buzz in the bike industry this week, the following is my humble little take on it]

i say NEY to two shows, and it is simple, bike shop owners [and some exhibitors, the small indy entrepreneur, the up and comers, the backbone of the american economy] are 'PO and simply can't afford to go to two shows. afford in the sense of money and or time. most bike shops are also indy and are just making it happen. the large brand 'concept stores can afford to party, but who cares about them? they are going to carry what they are told to and only the big brands [some of which don't even exhibit].

these trade shows are just that, trade shows, not auto shows trying to sell product to consumers.

only one will survive over time.....

with that said, i think that interbike should see what it is that eurobike thinks sets them apart, better, can compete at the same time as interbike. interbike, learn from you competitor.

- now go ride