They like us! They really like us!

by Chris Fontecchio on Jun 11, 2007 1:46 PM EDT in News

From the July Men's Journal Magazine:

Photo shamelessly stolen from Pez... From what little I can see in the picture, it's possible they did an honest assessment of the Tour too. Obviously I'm buying this issue. Oh, and if Cosmo doesn't think I'll be taunting him for getting billed first, he thinks too highly of me.

:-p

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Comments

congrats

that's pretty cool; i wonder how much additional traffic you'll get from that!

-K-

by KevinK on Jun 11, 2007 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

It all helps

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on Jun 11, 2007 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

This is so freaking cool! Congrats, Chris!!!!!

by Ruthann on Jun 11, 2007 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Well done...

Congrats to all who make PdC as cool as it is!

by ssmith on Jun 11, 2007 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

It's Chris et al,

et al being latin for "the rest of us."

Community is key in making this a great site (honking horn) and for that we thank you.

The Managment

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on Jun 12, 2007 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions

untapped pro cycling fandom

I was driving down to a race in Youngstown, Ohio (the New Jersey of Ohio) on Sunday and happened to drive past the gathering of a big century tour and my mind was boggled. I was nearly blinded by the helmet mirrors reflecting the early morning sunshine.

There were about 30 people in the 4/5 field at the race, there were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds streaming to the "Sunday in June" tour in Burton, Ohio.

I thought, wow, people pay to ride, unmarshalled, on the roads that I train on week in and week out.

My parochial view of cycling will never be the same--I haven't ever done a tour, but there are many more people in recreational cycling than I ever imagined.

-K-

by KevinK on Jun 11, 2007 2:48 PM EDT reply actions

It's huge out here (Massachusetts)

There are 3 (Best Buddies, Great Mass Getaway, Pan Mass Challenge) that I can think of off the top of my head. Pan Mass attracts 4000 riders, GMG is around 1500-2000 and I think Best Buddies is in the 500-1000 range. There are also myriad smaller ones all summer long.

Before I started riding I never paid attention to any bikes on the road, but New England is home to a huge number of cylists (racers and rec riders). It's possible to race every weekend 10 months out of the year between road, mt. bike and cross. The only thing we don't have is a velodrome.

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on Jun 11, 2007 2:55 PM EDT reply actions

Cycling is huge here, too...

It's a cliche because it's true, but Southern California is like a playground for cyclists --- the coast, the mountains, and lots of rollers in between, plus the weather is ridiculous ALL YEAR.

There are TONS of cyclists here, as well as tons of triathletes.

And I'm not sure how far this trend has made it into the middle parts of America, but fixed gear bikes are also HUGE (again?). From San Diego to SF and up to Portland and Vancouver, everybody and their brother has climbed back onto their fixies, it's crazy! Not necessarily to race, although racing does go down (usually in equal parts with the beer drinking).

I've been slowly coaxing a few of my friends to the dark side, i.e. talked them into watching some mountain stages, with me, so who knows, perhaps we're on the verge of another cycling bubble?

Jason

P.S. Congrats on the article coverage! Chris, you ought to think about writing a brief Diary entry about how you guys started this thing, 'cause I'd be curious. I keep coming back here because everyone is very cool and not looking to get into arguments, and because the people who post here are just so damn enthusiastic!

by 72andSunny on Jun 11, 2007 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Racing has been up and down here

In the LeMond days, racing was bigger here in Northeast Ohio than it is now. I live in the ex-exurbs and back in the early 90s, we routinely had 30-50 people out on training rides. Now there are none. I have to drive 1-2 hours to race regularly (not counting local training races).

I'd say overall, I see more bikes on the road, though.

I want to try track riding sometime. It looks like fun, but alas, we have no velodrome, either.

-K-

by KevinK on Jun 11, 2007 3:10 PM EDT reply actions

How far is Trexeltown

from you?

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on Jun 11, 2007 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

6 hours

Too far to ride 1km!

-K-

by KevinK on Jun 11, 2007 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

:-(

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on Jun 11, 2007 4:33 PM EDT reply actions

Come to Seattle

It's a short (if traffic-clogged) hump from downtown to Marymoor's resurfaced track.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on Jun 11, 2007 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

It'd be

faster to drive to PA.

I'll get there sometime.

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on Jun 11, 2007 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

Sweet

Congrats on the mention -- it's well deserved.

I don't know if it's weird or if it makes sense, but the mass-market sports mags often seem to put out pretty decent preview issues. Like...leading up to last year's Tour, Outside (I think) devoted the bulk of their issue to the Tour and it was all pretty solid coverage/commentary.

by Chester @ Podium Cafe on Jun 11, 2007 5:38 PM EDT reply actions

Congradulations and Thanks!!!

I've enjoyed from the first day I read this site and almost every single day since (about one year now). I've often wondered how you are able to stay on top of it. I'm happy that your efforts are realizing the recognition they deserve.

The S. Obedient Flying Dog Boy

by flying dog on Jun 11, 2007 6:36 PM EDT reply actions

Congrats

I echo the comments by flying dog. This is easily the most interesting community out there (a bit quirky, but altogether fun).

by BDBrian on Jun 11, 2007 6:56 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks all

for all the kind words today!!

72 and Sunny asked how we got started... the short version is that I was blogging about Cycling on Blogger (Digital Peloton, w/ Pete & Drew), noticed that Markos was a cycling fan based on comments at dKos, and barraged him with emails to add Cycling to his list of blogs at SBNation til he agreed to let me do this. The rest, as they say, is too boring to be history.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on Jun 11, 2007 8:01 PM EDT reply actions

Kudos...

I write a couple blogs, and recognize the amount of effort that goes into an enterprise like this.

My mind sometimes reels at the staggering number of words Chris puts out every day, and surely at some point he'll be targeted by WADA, who must suspect him of using powerful illegal stimulants.

I know I do.

To a site like this, pageviews are currency, and links from other sites are total bread and butter.

Everyone who enjoys what this site delivers should consider mentioning it (and providing a link back) somewhere appropriate (club Web site, newsgroup, other blogs, etc).

This Post Brought to You By Hennie's Hordes:
We're not one of the other VDS teams

by TCWriter on Jun 11, 2007 11:41 PM EDT reply actions

I would also recommend

checking out this site

Though not a fisherman I still find it very interesting, and the writing and photography is excellent.

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on Jun 12, 2007 9:09 AM EDT reply actions

Wait

I don't get it, trout now live underground?

At least the writing is good.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on Jun 12, 2007 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought you were a descendant of

trout farmers. You should know all about the soil based fish business.

-K-

by KevinK on Jun 12, 2007 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Literal bastards...

"Underground" as in counter-culture. You know, fight the power, rage against the machine -- that kind of stuff.

I am so misunderstood, and yes -- I suffer so for my art.

This Post Brought to You By Hennie's Hordes:
We're not one of the other VDS teams

by TCWriter on Jun 12, 2007 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

In Italy

they still have water. Unlike the situation in California, Rome isn't secretly stealing all their streams so people can water their lawns in the desert.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on Jun 12, 2007 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions