Sunday's Fun Day
by Jen See on Aug 17, 2008 10:50 AM EDT
in Cafe Happy Hour!
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The British are cleaning up the track events: Gold for Wiggins, Gold for Romero, Gold and a world record in the team pursuit. Chapeau!
More photos and stories from Utah on the way. At Downer's Grove the critters are fighting out the U.S. national crit championship today. Action in the Tour of Portugal is firing up. And I hear there's still a bunch of stuff going on in Beijing. Something about people who run and jump fast. Why run, when you could ride a bike? Wheels are good.
Anyway, anything you want to talk about on this lovely Sunday (actually, it's super duper foggy here, which in it's own way, is plenty lovely), post away, my friends. I'll be back later to check on your work ;-)
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Canadian cyclists bike problem solved!!! breaking news ;-)
as mentioned in another thread, madison rider Martin Gilbert’s bike has given out and while good enough for training, won’t be good enough for racing … supposedly none of the Canadian bike companies he contacted would give him a bike prior to the Olympics … but now apparently the editor of Canadian Cyclist talked to Mr Vroomen himself and Gilbert has a loaner Cervelo from the Dutch team pursuit team to ride (read “Cervelo” for “CSC” everywhere in the article I’m sure ;-) )
speaking of Gilbert
he’s listed on the Kelly Benefits/Medifast team roster on their website still, anyone (Lyne?) know if he has really done any riding for them this year or has he only really been riding track?
2008 results
2nd Ricola Twilight Grand Prix
3rd Stage #2 Tour of Bahamas
4th Canadian National Criterium Championships
4th Iron Mike Time Trial
5th Tour of Somerville
8th Bike Jam/Kelly Cup
10th Stage #2 Nature Valley Grand Prix
12th Uptown Greenwood Pro Cycling Challenge
Are those real competition names???
“Iron Mike Time Trial”???? Is that to see how long you can last getting a facial tattoo?
I know, it said "als" instead of "ist"... don't give me any crap...
Those are real race names
I knew he had been riding, and my friend Google pointed me to velobios.com where I retrieved his entire 2008 palmares. I guess when your results a bit skinny you add anything that sounds good. Further investigation reveals that the entire Iron Mike Pro Men’s field was only 6 riders!
I think the real story is that politics got in the way and Svein Tuft wasn’t chosen to ride with his partner Zach Bell.
is it my lack of fashion taste
or are the british track uniforms just awful?
by cyclingchallenge on Aug 17, 2008 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Well... at least it's easy to tell who's who...
scary--I dropped by just to say that, after watching the team pursuit at a civilized hour
The all-blacks have a very out-of-the-saddle, up tempo start, too. Definitely chant time. Compared to the Dutch creamsicles, that’s a mighty classy kit.
Other thoughts…
The size disparity in the Dutch team was pretty striking. Where did they find 2 dutch cyclists only 5’ 9"? (No mystery to finding Dutch guys 6’ 6".)
I also liked the overall eye-appeal of the Ukraine team. Too bad they aren’t so great, but… maybe a new trainer? Or maybe they should be road racers, with that physique? Or maybe the kit just does them more-than-justice.
As for the Brits, it was amazing how the numbers improved every time Geraint or (obviously) Wiggins was on the front.
Glad to see that not all the teams (and few of the very best riders) have the track-gorilla shape.
I could get to like this event a lot.
I would like to ride on one of those tracks. Heck, I would like to touch one.
please
you must film this. Your haka, that is.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Aug 17, 2008 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Just got back from my soggy camping trip
to find that Britain have been doing all this in my absence! Am soo excited! The French proclaimed that we wouldnt dominate like at the worlds but how wrong they were :-)
welcome back
what part of Wales were you in? check the Volta thread – we’ve been celebrating the Welsh there…
Just outside St David's,
between there and Whitesands beach, if you know it. It rained and rained and rained but was still fun. Got back verrrrry late last night and am now zombified once again!
surf's up!
do you surf?
my grandfather was from Pembroke Dock and i have scads of rellies in and around there. uncle in Cosheston, great uncle in Hodgeston, etc. my dad spent his childhood summers south of where you were at Freshwater East. that whole coast is a beautiful area – i may retire there eventually…
No, sadly not, although I'd like to learn.
I have been known to venture out to sea with a body board but unfortunately I didn’t have time on this occasion: I was actually there to sing the weekend services in the cathedral with a choir from London. For some reason it was deemed a good idea to camp rather than stay in a nice cosy bed and breakfast!
hmmm
odd that they made you camp – could be tricky on the voice :)
sounds like a wonderful event! was it a merger of your London choir and a Welsh choir? you must have made some magnificent sounds in that cathedral…
No, we were just filling in while the cathedral choir were on holiday.
Someone in this London choir used to be a cathedral chorister there, hence the personal connection. Her parents live there still and we camped in their field. I suppose it could be seen as some sort of ‘team bonding’ exercise too, although we were not made to do assault courses like poor old CSC! The cathedral is a lovely place to sing but it’s rather disconcerting the way the floor slopes so much from end to end!
singing in those old cathedrals...
must be grand, in spite of sloping floors! i remember hearing evensong at St Paul’s on one of my London trips some years ago – a choir from the American midwest was guesting, along with the resident choir. simply stunning acoustics!
Snowsill wins
Silver for Vanessa, its cool!
bronze for Hofman.
Vanessa betwen australian.
I think Vanessa loose his gold on second transition, despite that, Snowsill ded a great running
by semprenaroda on Aug 18, 2008 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions
So why are the Brits so good at Track?
I think to some extent track cycling is a little like BobSled or ski jumping. One needs the facilities to be any good at it.
And Britain has the facilities for track cycling.
In large part because northern Britain is so crowded and has such lousy weather ….. this lead to a bunch of velodromes being built – several near Manchester for example.
just a theory
by cyclingchallenge on Aug 17, 2008 2:37 PM EDT reply actions
Paul Sherwen kept saying
(several times actually) how the British had been investing heavily in track cycling over the past 10 years. Velodromes are part of it, of course, but the implication seemed to me to be a comprehensive focus on track cycling. Looks like it’s paid off…
Whoa
I’d call that an upgrade over Gusev.
I was wondering if they were gonna put some energy to their spring Classics effort. Not yet.
So does this mean...
that Zubeldia has shed the mantle of GC contender in exchange for being a very well payed Super Domestique?
SEMPRE: Go ahead and put that up as a fanpost, I think it at least deserves that kind of attention!
I know, it said "als" instead of "ist"... don't give me any crap...
A velodrome
is a must for developing trackies. We used to send a few to Olympics and worlds from our ‘drome in this backwater till the city tore it down to build a couple of big box stores. A promise to build a new one for the ’97 Pan-Am games didn’t happen. They got a rent-a-track instead.
And what’s wrong with gorillas on bikes anyway? I don’t remember anyone dissing Cav during the Tour for his physique.
Can’t wait to see Wiggins and Cav race the Madison. If you’ve never seen the Madison I urge you to catch it 5:30 A.M. EDT Tuesday. Easily the most exciting thing on two wheels. Wiggins to keep the pace high for 3-4 laps and then launch Cav for 1 and a half or two blistering laps before getting the hand sling for 3-4 laps I predict they will win by at least a lap maybe two not to mention lots of points.
Team pursuit record for the Brits but no gold medal, yet. The 1-2 race is 6:20 A.M. EDT tomorrow.
i never see a Madison race
but i will try for sure to see that
by semprenaroda on Aug 17, 2008 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Madison is freakin wild...
Hand slings, pack riding.. all on boards… crazy. Anyone know when it might be covered? I watched sprint quals on USA this am before heading out to the TT…
by Christopher See on Aug 17, 2008 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Kudos to Lyne...
…for staying on the track to take pics of the team madison at the LA Track World Cup!!! I was sadly too chicken to stay on the track and took my pics in the safety of the stands Lyne…next year chica I will be on the track with you!
The power and energy of the team madison is insane!!
"gorilla" comment not pointed at Cav
I think the disconcertingly massive guys was some of the danes and some of the Russians? Actual bellies on them… necks like tree trunks… Probably not anything that would have been out of place in general, but they just didn’t look like cyclists.
And I was talking about the Team Pursuit I’d just watched…I couldn’t be impressed by Cav because he wasn’t in it. The other two were Ed Clancy & Paul Manning, if I’m reading my screen snap right. I’m a Cavendish fan, hold your fire…
i'm loving track...
like never before, gorillas or no gorillas! maybe it’s because the Brits are doing so well and i was born just up the road from Chris Hoy, and maybe it’s because i’m paying closer attention. but it’s thrilling!
for Canadian viewers...
there are a number of videos of track events archived on the CBC Olympics site – better than what we got for road events.
Niki Terpstra had some very bad luck on the way to the track. This from CN:
Niki Terpstra of the Netherlands was cycling with his team-mates to the Laoshan Velodrome Sunday morning for the qualifications for the team pursuit. In front of Terpstra, Robert Slippens suddenly had to dodge a car, and Terpstra ended up going down into the Beijing traffic. He suffered fractures of both lower arms.
The 24 year-old was immediately taken to a local hospital, where the fractures were diagnosed. He also had stitches in an open wound on his chin.
“This is very bitter for Niki. The Olympics are a dream for every athlete,” said Milram team manager Gerry van Gerwen. “He has had a very successful season so far and was scheduled to start the Deutschland Tour. Now we have lost him for the rest of the season. We wish him the best and hoped that he recovers from his injuries quickly.”
Terpstra had signed a new two-year contract with the team at the end of the Tour de France.
That is really unfortunate.
I think they said
during the track cycling coverage earlier today that the car that was at fault was a police car…
I remember a National Geographic article saying to avoid the nice black cars...
Party higher-ups and police, and they drive like the laws don’t apply to them.
Because Gavia is probably
off doing Sunday stuff…
a pre-release heads up. Stage 5 Tour of Utah imagery is going up…. Nothing like an ITT on a motor course, in the desert to challenge a photographer….
by Christopher See on Aug 17, 2008 6:40 PM EDT reply actions
sounds
very cool
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Aug 17, 2008 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions
yep
the final section was over a mile on the twisting, undulating, road course. Best part? It was 15 degrees cooler out there than it has been all summer.
Since G hasn’t center paged the photos from today, follow the link from Fridays post and it should take you to the master gallery.
There are some “teaching” examples up on the tail of Saturdays shots… What not to do when shooting back lit with fill flash..
by Christopher See on Aug 18, 2008 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Since this IS an open / non-cycling thread...
I just bought a replacement copy of “Young Frankenstein” and a brand spanking digitally remastered version of Tai-Chi Master (with Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh) on DVD.
Ain’t got no booooooo… ody and, ah-no… body cares … ah-for … ah-me yakata-ka, yakata-ka HEY!
Eye-gore!
Frodrick!
I know, it said "als" instead of "ist"... don't give me any crap...
There... Wolf!
Werewolf???!?
There… wolf… There… Castle!
Why are you talking that way?
I thought you wanted to!
I don’t want to.
Suit yourself… I’m easy!
I know, it said "als" instead of "ist"... don't give me any crap...
How about a nice roll in teh hay?
Rolly rolly rolly ..
Terry Garr’s first film roll (oh ow..) as far as I know following her playboy shoot….
and of course…
“My what large knockers..”
“Why thank you Herr Doktor..”
by Christopher See on Aug 17, 2008 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Rock Racing Scores Big
Rock Racing won the national criterium championship (Bahati), the team pursuit at Junior Nationals and the Brentwood Grand Prix (Williams) — all on Sunday.
by Chief Commissaire on Aug 17, 2008 8:02 PM EDT reply actions
But did not place so well in Utah.
It would appear on paper that they had sent the A team here….
by Christopher See on Aug 17, 2008 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions
They had another kit I hadn't seen before here at Downers.
It was a dark blue, red, and white. And again – WTF is with the white shorts? Have the teams not gotten the memo about making a particular area dark?
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
Hi all
Chillin on the Cape this week. Me and both boys, my partner’s coming in a couple days. Been meaning to blog, but the kids have me outnumbered, and I haven’t seen much to inspire me to type. Hope y’all are enjoying… everything. I’m tired of gymnastics… stupid east coast coverage.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Aug 17, 2008 10:01 PM EDT reply actions
mia moglie
or the wifey… take your pick.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Aug 18, 2008 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought maybe Drew was flying out. ha ha!
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
Already here
He’s invading my turf now.
Note to Chris – you’re not from around here no more.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
that sounds fun :-)
betcha we can keep the words flowin’ while you play.
it’s sorta slooow in terms of bloggables at the moment anyway. ’cept we got pictures :-)
Thank goodness
for Lyne’s reports from Utah. Otherwise, is there a slower weekend in Cycling between March and October? The week before the Giro; that’s it. It’s odd, usually I accidentally schedule my trips at the worst time, not the best.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Aug 18, 2008 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
lol
i haven’t had the chance to write anything more about track.
but anyone who would like to get us caught up can put up a fanpost on the right hand side. betcha that someone will come along and move it to the center column. i’d love to see some track chatter ‘round here. Good stuff goin’ down there in Beijing on the boards for sure.
Ha ha ha!
Another gold and another world record for the team pursuiters. I am basking in British glory :-)
Emma Pooles bars
were different. I have only found one picture at cn Olympics Photo collection of the womens ITT that almost shows her bars. They appear to be one piece moulded fork/handlebar with the bar coming off the fork crown or handlebar clamped to the steerer above the fork under the head tube. I lean to the one piece.
I thought that could only be achieved on the high seas!
I know, it said "als" instead of "ist"... don't give me any crap...
Just because I don't see a better place to post it
I wonder if he had to put those thorugh the X-Ray machine...
and by “those” i mean the medals; not the family members.
I know, it said "als" instead of "ist"... don't give me any crap...
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