05.31.09
Denis Menchov, Giro 2009 champion. Enough said. The man who did a pretty good impression of an ice cube through a very hot Giro, melted at the end of today’s stage. It was no surprise that the Tifosi literally tried to blow Di Lucca around the coarse today to a win, and the time he needed to take the final jersey. Menchov kept his cool, blocked them out, and rode his race. Even after Di Lucca had crossed the line and all Menchov had to do was finish, the drama wasn’t over. One of those weird front wheel wipe-outs (that Dave Zabriske also had when he was in yellow at the Tour) tried to intervene. I was stuck for words as I watched him bounce off the cobbles and still have the presence to try and reach out and grab his bike as it was sliding down the road in front of him. Pick himself up, casually throw his $2oK rig down, and get on another to push to the line. It was only afterwards that the melt happened. All the pressure of literally winning the Giro by himself flooded out in a burst of emotion only reserved for football players, as he ran down the barriers pumping his fists at the Tifosi and press. This post line thing has become the celebration De Jour. Cavendish working his way back down his lead-out train as they cross the line is becoming a pretty common site. But there was something about the raw, genuine emotion of Menchov that could only make you want to cheer for the guy. Denis Menchov, Giro 2009 champion. Enough said.
CATEGORIES: Classic, Riders
COMMENTS (0)
05.30.09
Got myself a pair of these today (mid-ride as I sat on my Rudy’s at the coffee shop, plonker). After watching the Giro for the last three weeks I figured I could pull off some white shades. Despite their chunky look, they feel really light and very comfortable on. They fit well with the strap system of my LAS helmet. I have been reading a lot about the Pop-Top technology for swapping the lenses, and how easy it is – and they are right, in and out before you know it. The white frames I bought come with a set of spare clear lenses for low-light days and riding at dusk/dark, and a pair of dark lenses (in the shot above). The lenses are made by Zeiss who usually make camera optics and seem to be really high quality. Strange to say this, but they made my other glasses feel like I had been riding in fog for the last year. The rubber nose band is also comfy – I had a face plant with the back window of a car a few years back and have a “sensitive bridge” – these felt great. The rose-silver lenses look like a pretty good addition down the line for Spring/Autumn riding, and can be bought as an add on. They come with a cloth bag and case.
www.giro.com
CATEGORIES: Design, Kit
COMMENTS (0)
05.28.09
It is safe to say I haven’t looked forward to a stage as much as this since being on Alp D’Huez for the individual timetrial. 26 seconds after nearly three weeks? I think it will also be safe to say that somebody will blow, so highly appropriate that it will be finishing on top of a volcano. The question is will Di Lucca try and go early, or bank it all on the last climb. Will someone like Pellizotti or Sastre try and be a spoiler and go on the Angelo. Or will a complete surprise come out of the peleton and solo for 1ookm to a win. Who cares, whatever happens it might be one of the best days of cycling ever. Come on Tom Danielson, what you got to loose!
CATEGORIES: Routes
COMMENTS (0)
05.27.09
How can Danilo Di Lucca not be in the Tour De France? It is nonsense. I’m sorry but Agritubel over LPR? The guy has shown himself to be one of the best riders in the world. His style of riding is nothing but pure entertainment. At the Blockhaus stage today he made us all remember why this sport is so amazing. Just watching his tempo up the climb today was making acid collect in my thighs (I had just come back from a ride). No team setting tempo and leading him out. Nobody closing gaps for him. He was riding his training climb and it showed. He looked like he was ready to get off the bike and fight with anyone that would have the nerve to come past him. Sadly, I can’t believe the Tifosi started to boo Garzelli for taking second. It is a race god damm it! They aren’t on the same team! On another note Lance looked like he was having serious doubts about coming back after he crossed the line.
CATEGORIES: Riders
COMMENTS (0)
05.25.09
When you read most of the reports from todays stage not too many are going to talk about Michele Scarponi. They will talk about Sastre’s blistering series of attacks to drop some of the best in the world, take the stage and slip into 3rd overall. About how cool and calculated Menchov was to ride to second and extend his lead over Di Lucca. Hell even Lance Armstrong will get a mention. What you won’t hear much about is the riders that were going in the opposite direction, backwards. Scarponi got in the early break of the day, with 19 other hopefuls. Got dropped on the way up the Monte delle Cesane. He chased back on the descent, only to crash after rejoining. He got up and got back onto the lead group. At 100km to go they had over 7 mins. Then along with Cunego he split their group to just the two of them over the Monte Nerone and the Monte Catria. Then it all started to go wrong, the 80 degree plus temperatures, the crash and chase, and the attacks by Popo’, all started to add up. He got shelled. He blew. As shots split between Popo’s lone attack, we also saw images of Scarponi grasping for water and watched as his legs died a 1000 times. The Tifosi knew, and he got showered with water and pushed around every hairpin. In the end he finished 34th on the day 13 minutes down on Sastre. After a day like that – he did not climb off – because he is an Italian and in the Giro. And he probably thinks he can do it again tomorrow. Pro.
CATEGORIES: Riders
COMMENTS (0)
05.24.09
Definitely 80s, but even today this jersey could rock it in the peleton. If the goal of team colors is to stand out from the moving rainbow that is the peleton, then this one achieves it. Probably one of the most memorable jerseys ever designed. Based on Piet Mondrians “Composition A” painting, the jersey was designed by Benetton, the French clothing label. There is a great quote from Bernard Hinault (which makes me wonder about Cervelo’s kit today), “The first idea was an all-black strip like the New Zealand rugby union team. We discarded it because we’d have baked under the hot sun of the Tour de France. Then she came up with the idea of a jersey like a Mondrian picture, bright colours like yellow and red in a geometric pattern of differently sized rectangles. This was something of a revolution, which was just what we wanted. It was a symbol of our intention to stand out from the other teams and to brighten up the peloton”. I am surprised though that a French team and designer went to a Dutch artist for inspiration, considering the legacy of French art and design, and the competitiveness between French and Dutch teams.
You can buy a beautiful replica of the jersey made by Santini at Prendas
CATEGORIES: Classic Jerseys, Design
COMMENTS (0)
05.23.09
Found this great company, Klean Kanteen. They make beautiful 100% recycled, 18/8, food-grade, stainless steel drinking bottles. Plus the bottle weighs only 6.125 ounces and looks incredibly durable. They also make a custom bike cage to fit the bottle. We have been looking for some high quality merchandise options for Elcyclista and Klean Kanteen do a co-branded programme. Apart from the nicely thought out design, they run a beautiful color range in retro and primary colors, also with a selection of interchangable tops. The company also participates in the 1% for the planet program and run a very eco friendly and quality driven manufacturing program. All round great brand. Maybe we will be having some Elcyclista bottles for sale soon.
CATEGORIES: Design, Kit
COMMENTS (0)
Just ordered one of these to try out on our trip to France at the end of June. My bar top is already a little packed with my power meter so this will give me GPS data. The new Garmin Connect site is pretty nicely done and will drop the ride data right on to Google maps. They made a lot of improvements to the site and have some really nice ajax UX builds. I should get it next week, so I can do a few test rides before we go. If nothing else I will get a nice circular white spot on my wrist from the sheer size of the thing, and the exposed Irish skin in the heat of the Pyrenees.
CATEGORIES: Design, Digital Things, Kit
COMMENTS (2)
05.21.09
A french classic from the era of Hinault, LeMond and Fignon. I grew up seeing this jersey on Sunday afternoons Tour De France coverage with “The Badger” kicking ass up the Alps. The team ran from 1981 to 1985 after Renault took over the sponsorship of Gitane. The team was managed by the progressively minded Cyrille Guimard who was one of the first managers to bring American riders into the modern day peleton, including LeMond. They won every major title in cycling apart from the Vuelta. This jersey was designed for black shorts using the Renault brand colors and taking cues from the Renault design systems diagonal stripes. Also nice to see only two sponsors on the shirt, different times my friend. Understated? No, but French flare? Absolutely.
CATEGORIES: Classic Jerseys
COMMENTS (1)
05.17.09
Hoping to pick one of these stems up in France this June. Sub 100g stem, with six titanium screws, if you get it in a 90mm stem length. A 105mm length takes it up to 104g. Nice bit of German engineering, with a great quote from their owner “The laws of physics are not concerned with us, but we must pay attention to them – especially when there’s a headwind!”
CATEGORIES: Design, Kit
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