El Cyclista

03.10.10

Google Maps Bike Routes

So they do this the week after I come back from LA? Google Maps directions now with bike routes included. This is a very cool addition, as I find myself using the “where the hell am I?” button quite a lot on Google Maps. Now the question is, are they going to add a Pro, Cat 1 or “on my fixie” filter that will adjust the journey time? One feature which I love is the crowd sourcing of the routes. They have put their best wheel forward at making suggested directions, but offer up the functionality for local riders to email in suggested changes to improve the quality. One feature missing though, is showing the best coffee and bike shops en route. Then you are talking about true technology for riders. Imagine this coupled with the Copenhagen wheel we posted earlier (http://elcyclista.com/2010/02/the-copenhagen-wheel/)….that would be pretty damm cool.

03.07.10

From The Saddle: La Flores and Malibu

The weather caught up with me on my last day of riding in LA. It had been too good to be true, 60 degrees and sunny everyday. I wanted to head up La Flores one last time. When you turn off PCH there is a nice steady one mile to get yourself settled in, and then you hit a tough 16% section. Once past this it is a great climb that had hardly any traffic on it. I came back down the same way to PCH and headed back towards Dume Point to shake the legs out. If you ever get tired of riding PCH (It is hard to believe this is the equivalent of our 9W – hardly seems fair) there is a nice little side road called Malibu Road, that although it doesn’t have a great surface, you will get an idea of how the other half live. When I got back into LA I spotted a great little gaggle of surfers floating around looking for a wave. All of this right on the doorstep of the city. Completely changed my opinion of LA, it is a very cool place to ride.

03.04.10

From The Saddle: The Agoura Hills

It just gets better and better. My first time riding in the Agoura Hills off PCH, and man it is some tough love riding. Beautiful Canyon roads, that get less traffic the more you go out along PCH. Today I headed up Encinal Road on the advice of my coach Chad and along Mulholland Hwy (probably the worst named road ever – because believe me this is no Highway) and back down Kanan Dume Road. The climb up Encinal is perfect, nice and steady and great views of the Pacific on the lower slopes. It averages out at about 5.5%, with a max of 8% and runs for about 6.5 miles if you go all the way up and over to the Malibu Country club. The legs are starting to feel a little cooked, but I am going to squeeze every ounce of life out of this sun before I go back to frigid NYC on Sunday. How can I go back to the Cyclops after this?

03.03.10

From The Saddle: PCH To Zuma Beach

From The Saddle: Griffith Park, LA

My first ride in LA. My first time in shorts outdoors in 2010. Felt good. I drove over from West Hollywood to the car park at the LA Zoo and set out on the loop recommended to me by friends in Griffith Park. This is a regular in the city loop, and despite the fact it was 7am and a little cold, there were still a few riders out. The loop is practically traffic free, and apart from some drain off dirt from the rain, the surface is pretty good. Just after the Travel Town museum there is a nice little climb, perfect for hill repeats. I did see something interesting. This being Oscar week I guess there are a few stars in town, and I did see a jogger out with her trainer being escorted by a police car. Only in LA.

02.27.10

Omloop! Nice one Juan

I felt bad for big Tony (Juan) Flecha last year in Paris Roubaix, when Pozatto had the balls to complain about him falling in front of him. Hell Pippo, it’s not like he did it on purpose, maybe you shouldn’t sit so close to his wheel! So if anyone was going to beat our Heinrich, then I don’t feel so bad seeing Tony giving the “bow and arrow” on the line. Did he really just ride Philip Gilbert off his wheel without getting out of the saddle? It looks like that new fish n’ chip, and deep fried Snicker British diet is working out for the Spaniard (did I just give Brailsford’s secret away, sorry Dave). Very impressed to see Heinrich take second, despite declaring himself “less than fit” before the race. Looking good for MSR Mr Haussler! Also nice for the Belgium commentators to be the first to say “the sky’s the limit” – I wonder how long it took them to think that one up? I doubt it will be the last time we heat that…Cycling’s March madness is well under way.

ADDITION:

….and they just picked up a 3rd in K-B-K, with Ian Standard. Man, I could feel Standard’s legs lock up after he went in the last KM – still a great ride. This team is looking good for another win in the classics.

02.25.10

The Copenhagen Wheel

I have been watching this product for a while with great interest. One of the things I enjoy most about riding is the physical exertion, so isn’t a bike with an engine a scooter? Although, there is something nice in the idea of being able to just flip on an extra 30watts in the last 20 meters of the State line sprint. Joking aside, I understand that this type of product is not aimed at me, and if it succeeds on getting more people out on bikes – then that is an excellent thing. Who knows where that could lead, and it does make a very good option for a daily commute in bike friendly cities. Potentially more interesting is the technology developed within the wheel hub itself, that if adopted could apply to us all. The hub design allows sensors to collect data as you ride. Not the usual stuff we all collect already (speed, distance, watts, elevation..) but data on your actual route like carbon monoxide, NOx, noise, ambient temperature and relative humidity. This in itself is not so interesting but when crowd sourced with other rider’s data you start to build up a very different view of the environment that you ride or train in. Or as the developers call it “fine-grained environmental information”. On a personal level I would love to know in New York summers where the lowest pollution levels are in a city, in real time as I ride. But on a planning level if it could impact city policy and planning on where the best place to put bike routes are, now that would be something. The hub functionality is controlled from the handlebars via Bluetooth and a smart phone and allows you to view the data in real time. It can also be used as an electronic shifter to change gears, and amazingly lock the bike. Genius. So now I am thinking of a product partnership between Apple, Powertap and Shimano to make a race version of this. Sign me up.

02.19.10

Los Angeles Ride Suggestions

The week after next I will be down in LA for a week of work. I am thinking of bringing the bike as I will have a Saturday and Sunday, and a a few mid-week mornings to ride. Any readers out there who can recommend a couple of long road rides for the weekend, or nice 1.5 hour mid-week morning rides close to the city? I will have a car for the weekend and expect to drive out of town a little to get to a ride start. Any suggestions would be a HUGE help.

02.17.10

Ray Dobbin’s Paletti Cronos

I don’t know what impresses me more about Ray Dobbins. The fact that he has found and restored all of these bikes to such a high standard, or the effort he takes in documenting them. His site is well worth a visit for anyone interested in looking at the craft of frame design and how rides have evolved over the decades. It is hard to choose a favorite, but this Paletti Cronos is one of the most unique rides I have seen. Check out that paint. Man I wish I had the story behind this bike.
Photos by Ray Dobbins.

02.10.10

Feature: Jacques Anquetil By Miroir De Cyclisme

Walking around a flea market in Switzerland I stumbled across an old guy who had a stand full of sports memorabilia. It took awhile for him to get past my Irish-tainted pigeon French, but when he realized I was asking him if he had anything to do with cycling, he broke into a wonderful smile. He reached to the back of his table and presented me with two things of beauty. The first is this feature, a Jacques Anquetil Souvenir Magazine published by Miroir De Cyclisme in Paris in 1987. It captures the absolute essence of one of the most stylish riders to ever grace the roads of Europe, in victory, and the pain of defeat. One of the few riders to ever wear the Tour’s yellow jersey all the way from day one to Paris. Click on for the feature.