roadskater.net

This image was uploaded with the post Country Park Friends, Skate Fascination, Schwinn Logos, Making it Look Easy Without Realizing it.

This image was uploaded with the post Country Park Friends, Skate Fascination, Schwinn Logos, Making it Look Easy Without Realizing it.

On Sunday I was still feeling good after 35 miles with pals checking out the Carolina Century western loop. But it has been a bit of a struggle of late to get everything done (OK to get half of it done) that I would love to do for Tour to Tanglewood, roadskating and the Carolina Century, plus junk I just have to deal with in real life...like getting a little exercise and a host of other not nearly as fun tasks.

This image was uploaded with the post Photos of the 37th Annual Carolina Cup Bicycle Races 2009 in Greensboro Country Park Greensboro NC.

This image was uploaded with the post Photos of the 37th Annual Carolina Cup Bicycle Races 2009 in Greensboro Country Park Greensboro NC.

This image was uploaded with the post Photos of the 37th Annual Carolina Cup Bicycle Races 2009 in Greensboro Country Park Greensboro NC.

After an awesome Saturday morning roadskating the improved course for the 43-mile route of the Bicycle Toy & Hobby Tour to Tanglewood Training Ride in High Point, sleeping late Sunday was nice. But we knew the Carolina Cup Bicycle Races were going on at Greensboro Country Park, so we got going and made it up in time for the last three big events. I also had a phone call related to the NC Active Transportation Alliance (http://ncactive.org), so for a while I was on the phone and photographing at the same time. Yowee.

My legs were tired and a wall of rain was on the way, but somehow I got out to Greensboro Country Park in time for 10 miles or so before dark, and almost before the display of lightning flashes that had me worried more than usual about getting zapped. I saw no way my 100mm wheels would protect me from a spark arc.

Levi Leipheimer won another professional stage bike race in Valladolid, Spain (España) today. He made two nice gestures that seemed to be appreciated by most. First, he took a photograph or two of the crowd with a small digital camera (not a professional photographer's TTL style one). Second, when Alberto Contador joined him on the stage for the top three photo, Levi pointed at him to give him credit. Alberto pointed back (the three facing the crowd, not each other), to which Levi raised his pointing level higher, which Contador matched.

Fast becoming a favorite for many USA fans of cycling, Levi Leipheimer showed the dignified way to the front today. Noted for his diligent work ethic and quiet but friendly manner, Levi is not the first to be talked about when the likes of Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador are around. While gifted, surely, many feel he has to work harder, so he's often considered an underdog even when he should get attention as the leader. Today was an example, and all I can do is repeat that I hope he's never even suspected of doping, because he sure is a fine example of dignity in victory for me.

Lance Armstrong has crashed at the Vuelta Ciclista Castilla y León and retired from the race, leaving the scene by ambulance. It has been confirmed as a collarbone injury. I was unable to get video going today, so I didn't see it, but I'll post video links if I find any (not of the crash in particular). I'll update as I know more. Armstrong was there with Astana Cycling, Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer. It was the first time all three cyclists were to be racing together as a team.

Stage 8 was great for viewing except for the many in number but few in percentage fans, who ran for their own glory and fifteen seconds of fame. At times times these selfans impeded the cyclists, it seemed.

The time trial seemed like it might be the only way to shake things up, and that it did, with some doubt by the end of the day whether Levi Leipheimer might be passed in the overall (GC, general classification) by David Zabriske, the USA road Time Trial champ.

Stage 6 Time Trial Top 20

Stage 5 was another good one, but I wasn't able to catch it all. I did see Cavendish win again, this time just a bit further ahead than the day before, giving him more time to mug for the cams. 

Tour of California Stage 4 Merced to Clovis
The sun finally came out on the Tour of California in Stage 4, and so did the idiots. In fact, at one point on the final climb, an imbicile with a sharp implement meant to be some sort of devil's pitchfork too a head full of snow after one of the cyclists (purported to be Lance himself) was close enough to push him and his sharp tipped stick into the bank.

A lead group of four rode out almost all of a wet ride, dwindled to two, then the peloton munched them like a snack before dinner. Earlier in the day, Levi fell, catching Lance's back wheel, but got up for another bike and the Astana team caught up. Most of the day, Astana did the work, but as the end grew near, Team Columbia High Road appeared to be setting up for Mark Cavendish.

In the last few turns, Cervelo buzzed through town and to the line with an incredible lead-out. It was not that large of a lead-out, but wow, it seemed perfectly timed and organized.

Levi Leipheimer took the lead today in another drenched and cold day. He bridged up by himself to catch Barredo. Later on, young rider Thomas Peterson of Garmin took Levi's wheel and sucked, then came in first at the finish (but Leipheimer took the same time). The next group was 21 seconds behind and included Horner, Armstrong (who had an incident with a motorcycle that resulted in some delay), Brajkovic and Rubiera from Levi's Astana teammates for 5 in all in the top 21 seconds for the day. Garmin had 3, and several others had 2 in this group.

Yes it will be live on Vs. network, but I don't get that, having given up cable vision (though I still have cable internet, hoping to ditch that for fiber optic).

It appears there'll be live video (at least one stream) plus gps tracking and timing and placement info on the tracker section of the official site...
http://tracker.amgentourofcalifornia.com/

This article is about the technology used for the official tracker site...

Location

The Ronald Reagan Parkway will be closed to traffic from 11pm Friday, February 13th to 7pm Saturday, February 14th 2009. There will be the annual 'Run the Reagan' race, but once that's done, skaters, cyclists and other walkers/runners can jump on and enjoy the 7 mile hilly stretch.

Gwinnett County, bisected by I-85 northeast of Atlanta with the modest water tower reading, Success Lives Here, or some such, is showing signs of wanting to be involved in local and regional pro cycling events. The Gwinnett Sports Commission is a cosponsor of the ten-event Georgia Cycling Grand Prix. According to the Gwinnett Daily Post report:

I was just wondering, for those who did the 2008 Montreal 24-Hour Inline Race, how was it for you? Tell us whatever you can while you can still remember it. Share stuff about...who, what, when, where, how, how many, how much, how fast, how fun, what you'd want to be different from the race organizers, what you'd want to do differently, what you'd want your team to do in the future, and do you think you'd do it again?

This is open to all participants from any team and soloskaters too. Please share your thoughts while you can remember them. We're interested!

Now, something to cheer about! You never know about people really, but I've seen Levi in person and on streaming video and I can tell you there were awesome performances, but nothing that seemed "unbelievable," like some other performances I've seen. I'll never know if Levi is clean, just like I thought it was certain that others were, but seeing Levi almost but not quite do it several times leads me to believe in him. Having said that, joining Astana and linking with some I've begun to doubt still makes me wonder, which is sad.

I noticed in the righthand sidebar that non-phantom twin Tyler Hamilton has returned from his doping suspension to win the USA Cycling Pro road cycling championship by .002 seconds after 4h38m19s in and around Paris Mountain and Greenville, South Carolina. Much is made in the story of Hamilton's achievements without mentioning that whole doping thing (or maybe I missed it) and how some of those accomplishments may have occurred outside the bounds of legal racing.

First off, thanks to everyone for your supportive comments and interest. The 58.3 mile in 5:29 went off without a hitch, excepting a soreness on the ball of my left foot. I don't have all the vitals from my Forerunner 305 on hand, but will post those soon. I started off at 6:45 am from the lower parking lot at Country Park, which proved to be fortuitous as the heat and humidity really started to assert themselves at my 12:15 p finishing time.

Just a brief note to say how wonderful it was to be skating again. I was away due to acute lack of inspiration and laziness as opposed to having a real reason. Bottom line: no excuses.

Teamed up with Blake, Tim, and Andrew at Country Park in Greensboro on Tues. eve and it was wonderful. Everytime I leave for a while and come back, I always wonder why I ever did, leave that is. We all did 7 or 8 laps, talked skating, Garmin 305s, various park attractions, and all the other things that make for endorphin induced grins.

Location

Come learn from the master teacher and ultramarathon king of Athens to Atlanta. Eddy comes back to Greensboro again to get us back on the street, back into the drills, and back into inspiration....

Location

Skatey-Mark brings his skills and encouragement to bear as he teaches another one-day SkateStrong skating workshop for MS in Raleigh on March 29....

Location

Having skated with Blake and many others last summer at so many outdoor events, I am always looking forward to somewhere new and different to skate. I ran across this marathon a few months ago and have gotten all the details. I thought I would share with everyone. It seems like the marathon is set up for the more adventurous of us who like to race, myself not included, than those that skate outdoors for the pleasure, relaxation, scenery, exercise, etc...

Event info can be found at the following link:

http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1541333

I guess the thing I'd like to see happen for me in 2008 would be for double pushing to just be a natural part of my skating whenever it is the most efficient way to go. Making it more efficient and thus more useful more of the time would be the key. I'd like it to be a tool, or a couple of tools, that I can use involuntarily, I guess you'd say. I'd like it to be like shifting gears in the car without thinking.