Caption this

Photos by Tim De Waele http://www.tdwsport.com/

Freedom from Cars: Declaration of Independence

Read this.

Dave Zabriskie cleaned out

Professional cyclist, occasional wearer of one of the best mustaches in the peloton and Utah native Dave Zabriskie's house was broken into and completely cleaned out while he was in California racing in the Amgen Tour of California. The thieves took everything, both cars, 12 bikes, even his clothes! A link to the news article with a list of what is missing is here. Let's hope they find the tools that did this to him, and are able to get his stuff back.

Update on the Utah Velodrome

One of my friends who lives in Washington commented on Facebook that he is excited about the velodrome coming to Eagle, Idaho since it will be the closest velodrome to his house.

That made me realize that I haven't checked on how the plans for a velodrome in Utah are progressing. I went to the Salt Lake Velodrome website and was greeted with this news:

We are excited to be able to share with you the conceptual floor plans for the Ogden Velodrome. The velodrome is going to be located within a multi-use facility that will also host an indoor archery range and tennis courts. The track is going to be a wood track and 250m long. The plans call for seating for approximately 2900 on the mezzanine level and also include concession areas and a pro-shop space. The final location has not be finalized but it will be located in downtown Ogden and close to FrontRunner.

Here are the links to the main floor floorplan and the mezzanine floorplan. It looks like it is going to be a nice facility. I will post another update when there is more news.

It's your ride

It's Your Ride from Cinecycle on Vimeo.

I found this on the Wend magazine blog a couple of days ago. It is a great reminder of the pure joy of just getting out on your bike and riding.

Bicycle necklaces for sale - Fundraiser for American Diabetes Assn.

As you may know, I am raising money for the American Diabetes Association by participating in the Tour de Cure bicycle ride this summer. To help with my fundraising efforts, I have made some necklaces using spoke nipples. All money raised through the sale of these necklaces will go directly to the American Diabetes Association. I am asking $25 a necklace. An example of one of the necklaces is below.

Color and pattern may vary slightly. Thank you for your support of this cause that means so much to me. If you are interested in a necklace, post a comment and I will get back to you.

- Update. I have been thinking about this, and how to make sure that everything is on the up and up. If you want a necklace, go to my Tour page, and make a donation to the Tour de Cure. I will be notified that a donation has been made, and I will email you to get the address to send the necklace.

Sunday funnies

I know I have used this comic before. But with the weather yesterday, I had to use it again.

Our trip to New Hampshire

I have been back for almost a week, and I haven't gotten around to posting any pictures about our trip back east. Yes, I am a slacker. My wife, on the other hand, is already on her third of who knows how many posts about our trip. go and check them out here, here, and here. I should get some pictures up here soon.

vintage + modern = Renaissance

This is my bicycle. The frame is a 1993 Koga-Miyata Prologue, the components consist of a Gipiemme Grecal Prade wheelset, Sram 9 speed cassette, FSA Gossamer compact crankset(added since the picture was taken), Shimano 600 derailleurs and brakes, etc... Essentially components that are much newer than the frame.

There are a couple of reasons why I built my bike like this; First off, cost. When I built the bike, I couldn't afford to purchase a new bicycle, and it was cheaper to buy an old steel frame off eBay and finish it with parts sourced from the internet, bike shops, and my basement. Second reason is that it is unique. My bike lugged steel bike stands out in the sea of carbon and aluminuim bicycles you encounter everywhere you go.

Tim Jackson mentioned a shop on his blog recently, Renaissance Bicycles, that does the same thing that I have done with my old Koga, but with much nicer results. Check out their '84 Colnago Master, a stunning example of classic steel mated with modern componentry. Renaissance Bicycles also has a full selection of parts, and tips on bringing your own vintage bike into the modern era. I recommend checking them out.

Back, but not quite...

We made it back from visiting my brothers back in New Hampshire late last night. I will get some pictures up soon. It was a week with no computers, so I am still trying to catch up on blogs, email, twitter etc...

I'm leavin on a jet plane...

This was taken back in July 1981 at a family reunion. from left to right, Dad, Mom, D'Arcy, me, Mike, and Joan.

Sorry for the John Denver reference. I promise I won't let it happen again.

Tomorrow morning Kelly, my mom and I are boarding an airplane and flying to New Hampshire for a week to see my brother Mike. Those of you who have read Kelly's blog already know that Mike has just recently been diagnosed with cancer, and the outlook doesn't look good. Last Wednesday, he went in to the hospital, and they removed one of his kidneys, and took some cancerous tissue from his back muscles.

I am looking forward to the trip with equal amounts of excitement and aprehension; I am excited to go back to New England, because I have never been there before, and I am excited to see my brother and his family. But I am also nervous to see my brother and his family. It has been about 28 years since I have seen Mike. I don't expect a negative reception, but I don't really know what to expect. I am, for all intents and purposes, going to meet a total stranger for the first time. I also don't know what state Mike is going to be in when we get there. D'Arcy, my other brother, has been calling us to keep us up to date on Mike's status and he said that they believe that he will be released from the hospital on Monday. As I told Kelly when we planned this trip, we have no idea what condition Mike will be in when we get there, but this trip is long overdue. Fortunately we aren't having to pack dress clothes for a funeral.

Sorry for the rambling. I have so many thoughts on this, and I have wanted to get them out since I first got that call from D'Arcy last month. Please keep my brother and his family in your prayers as they go through this ordeal.

As we are deciding not to take any computers with us, we won't be updating any blogs. I will be able to update my twitter and facebook feeds from my phone, so expect some updates and pictures there. When we get back I'm sure that both Kelly and I will have full posts up about our visit.

Sunday funnies

Miniature Moab

These are all pictures that I took at the 2006 Moab Munifest.

I found this site Tilt Shift Maker, that allows you to manipulate pictures so they look like pictures of miniatures. Some of the pictures work better as miniatures than others.

Interesting...

Cocaine and Marijuana are both listed as banned substances by WADA - the World Anti-Doping Agency when they are taken in competition, but not when they are taken out of competition. Cyclist Tom Boonen was caught, and admitted to taking cocaine out of competition, He was banned from riding several races last year, including the Tour de France - where he was favored to win the green sprinters jersey. Just him. His team, Quick Step was still invited. Multiple gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps was caught - and photographed smoking marijuana out of competition. Nothing has happened to him yet. (in fact, a google search of Michael Phelps and Bong does not pull up any hits on sports-related sites, only gossip and star-related sites)

Interesting...

Also in the news is that the Spanish courts are re-opening the Operación Puerto case. Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes "treated" over 200 athletes, only a small percentage of which were cyclists, yet they are the only ones that have been mentioned in the media. (read the Wikipedia article for more background information)

Interesting...

No, cycling isn't being unfairly targeted, is it.

Sunday funnies