I took all of the following photos in a small sidewalk-accessible and visible bike parking garage in the Roppongi shopping district in Tokyo.
Look closely at this one and you’ll notice that the lock on this bike isn’t actually locking anything. With the right maneuver, you can just slide the lock over the bike and wheel:
After waiting patiently for the time to change back to where it should be, the Tuesday nighters have returned to Austin. I love these races are great for weekly training because: they are free: there are no officials, so you can jump in the field late if you don’t get there on time, and no-one calls you stupid if you decide to pull the pack around the whole race and get dropped at the sprint… and no-one complains if you want to sit in until the sprint. (more…)
Though Coldspring was not officially on the FCS / Compliance Depot cycling team‘s calendar, I made the decision to race this event in order to lessen my 7:10 ratio of mechanical’ed races to races attpmeted this season. My primary objective for this race was to judge my fitness during this time of the year compared to previous seasons. After two weeks of “racing vacation” since Fayetteville, I was ready to go again. (more…)
Jay Cobb put a couple of video cameras on his helmet and taped the last “episode” of THSJ’s Thursday night criterium series in downtown Austin, September 30th, 2004. Click here to watch. I’m the one wearing the Northwest Cycling jersey (it’s the yellow and blue one).
From PedalMasher.com: [Jay Cobb's] first effort with the cameras was during one of the weekly Austin crit races. Watch him close the gap on a break away, then muster some crazy power to win the bell lap and some cash.
I found this old e-mail Steen sent to the race team back in July:
On Jul 29, 2004, at 6:12 PM, Steen Rose wrote:
The State Road Race, October 10th, is my big goal for the fall. I am going to win it. I was 7th there last year, on the same course. It’s late in the year, and its long and hard, but I’m going to show up to win.
…and remember thinking that it seemed a little bit pretentious. A friend of mine later reminded me that it’s only pretentious if the claim isn’t fulfilled. :) (more…)
On a 95 mile course, the there is usually an unspoken consensus among the pack to “take it easy” for the first ten to twenty miles. Afterwords, things generally start to pick up. Of course there are always those few brave (naive?) riders who attempt to establish an early break in hopes a group might eventually bridge up to make their efforts worth while in the end. Such was the case with Jason Sager and Max Miley in this race. With Sager firing the first shots, the two were quickly out of sight while the pack carelessly conserved their energy for later in the race. (more…)
I was feeling pretty good after taking two days off to rest and recover from the Schlitz park and Carl Zack crits, which are from my experience, the hardest crits of this series. (more…)
It’s been about a week since Eric and I left Austin for Superweek. Five races later, I’m finally getting around to doing some official updates.
For starters, the racing up here is super hard as expected, but unlike last year, I’ve been able to finish every race so far, and actually got in the money two days in a row (31st at Alpine Valley on Monday and 20th at MGA Proving grounds the following day).
If you want to tag along, check out my mobile phone blog for up to the minute updates. The mobile blog (or moblog) is a website I update with my cell phone usually when I’m driving back from the races. Because I update it with my cell phone, it usually contains numerous spelling, punctuation, captialization, and gramatical errors.
I’ll also be posting updates to the official race report section when I feel like doing a real write up. (Expect a write-up of the MGA Proving grounds race real soon now.)
I’m definately doing five more races before we leave after Downer’s Avenue, and might do even more if I’m feeling up to it.
in a nutshell:
A small group got up the road almost from the gun.
A larger group bridged up them and formed a strong break of 19 that began putting serious time on the peleton.
The main pack stayed together and was calm for the first 3/4 of the race, every once and a while, a small group would get up the road and either fall back or dangle out in no-man’s land.
Steen attacked shortly after the feed zone and was followed by one other rider.
What was left of the peleton split up in persuit of them. I found myself in a chase group of about 8 that joined Steen’s smaller group on the crosswind section after a half-lap chase. (more…)
The Maritime Bay Classic, was the first event Eric and I did after arriving in Wisconsin. (more…)
I decided to do this race at the last minute. I would have gone to Tri-Peaks if I had the resources, but I’m really glad I stayed in Texas for this venue; it was a terrific event, and my first win in a P12 stage race. (more…)
Hello!!!
Lamar, CO
We have finished our detour to see the Vorhees people in Dillon and have resumed the route which papa drove on his way up to South Dakota. I wish I could have cycled more in the mountains, but the roads were “too dangerous”, although a little downhill would have been nice every once in a while.
Yesterday, I got to peddle about sixty miles, and like most days, an earlier start would have permitted more cycling. The first part of yesterday was spent waiting for the entrance for the Royal Gorge to open. Papa got everything all packed in the car and drove off to see the gorge at sunrise all before seven o’clock. Gates for the gorge open at nine o’clock, so the whole GORGEous sunrise thing was out of the question, seein”s that the sun in this part of the country comes up at what seems like just a couple of hours after midnight, well at least for a Texan.
The entrance we first arrived at was the back entrance, so in an attempt to kill some time, we drove around the gorge, and into Canon city (NOT canYon). I cycled about five miles up to the main entrance. In this altitude, that is no small feat, by the time I got to the top, I was completely exhausted, but the reward was far greater than the punishment. Actually, the main tourist attraction is not the gorge itself, but a marvelous suspension bridge that spans the entire gorge. It is claimed to be the highest suspension bridge in the world, completed in 1929, but as to whether this record is for altitude, or in height over land was not explained.
There was a great downhill upon exiting canon city that went clear to the next city, lasting about eight miles. Downhills are usually just short and sweet, but this one was just sweet. It made me realize that I really need a new bicycle, as if felt like my wheels were about to fall off.
Have you every been peed on by a cow??? We almost did a few minutes ago! Definitely something to write home about that little incident was. We were driving down main street in Lamar, CO (where this message is coming from), and while approaching a stop light next a cow transport truck, I spotted a stream of water shooting out the side. At first, I thought it was just mechanical leakage from some hydraulic drainage thing, but then realized that the leakage was of a more biological source. Thanks to papa for his quick driving reflexes, or we would have gotten our first hot shower in about a week.
I’ve gotta get ridin’ now. We hope to make it to Springfield, CO this evening because rumor has it that there is a drive-in theater there. That sounds fun. There aren’t many more of those left in the world.
TOM
Dillon, Colorado
Koert is showing us around the polygon headquarters. It is situated on the second floor of a bank. We got to Koert’s office and he
showed us around the poly website. They say it is due for a change very soon. Papa and I saw the “brain” computer. That was the scariest experience I’d had all summer.
This morning Koert, Connie, Beth, Papa and I all hiked up to Sapphire point.. the place where Hazel’s ashes where thrown
over the wonderful view of Colorado mountains. We had a nice picnic and hiked around the mountain. In the afternoon we all went up Keystone mountain and had lunch. Elevation was about sixteen hundred feet. Neato-cool-wow!!!
I tried to send a message last night from Jacques’ laptop, but it crashed on me. So much for that. Papa did send a message though, so I guess y’all got a pretty thorough update as to what happened yesterday. What an exhausting time we had. until tomorrow.
tom tom
Day Fourth Sidney, Nebraska
I am in Sidney, NE. We are nine miles away from Colorado. Our traveler and sometimes guide plans to leave in Dillon. He has been a great addition to my support crew. It won’t be the same knowing that I will have to manage all bike repairs once he leaves in Dillon.
Once again, the Public Library has served as a mid-ride pit stop. I still plan to put on another fifty miles on top of the sixty five all ready acquired today. Original plan was to do a double century today, but something like that requires a very early start or a very fast bike, neither of which I plan on obtaining on this trip.
Those equipped with a live connection, get a map of Sidney and surrounding highways through this web URL:
http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tmap&addr=&csz=Sidney%2C+NE&Get+Map=Get+Map
None of the possibilities presented in yesterday’s message of where the gang might stay overnight were acted upon. Of all places, we slept in the lawn of the mayor of Angora, NE. That might sound really cool and like something to tell your grandchippers about, but with a town population of only five, it’s a pretty good bet that the only person in town with a lawn would be the mayor. It still sounds like something cool. You may hear jokes about a city where one person puts on one hat when he wants to be the mayor and another when he wants to be the sherrif, but I’ve never even thought something like that could exist, but it’s real. At least I can say that I’ve slept in the smallest city in the world. Like yesterday about this time, nobody knows where tonight will be slept, except that it will be some place in Colorado. I’m looking forward to some geographical inspiration… i.e. a nice little road sign that says I made it clear across Nebraska and into Colorado. Dillon here we come!!!
The last time I saw Buffalo Dan was in Alliance, just after sending yesterday’s message. He thanked us in case he never met up with us again. He said he would see about staying in Angora, but probably didn’t even notice it as he rode by. He only expected to stay on rt. 385 until Bridgeport. It was fun while it lasted.
I must get back on the road if I want to make another forty miles before dark. It is three fifty five right now.
I hope everyone is enjoying these pitstops as much as I am.
… Tomazzo
Alliance, Nebraska
Day 2
As of right this minute, we are in mid-Nebraska. I am just taking a short pit stop at the local public library, so today’s ride is not over just yet.
Halfway through yesterday’s ride, I met up with another cyclist traveling to North Carolina. We expect to be with him until Northport, NE. He goes too slow to stay abreast with because he has about a hundred pounds of luggage to carry. He and I were talking and I found out that for one day, he had ridden with the Big Ride group. What were the chances of the two of us meeting up like that? I would like to ride somewhere neato solo or at least with a very small group of people sometime.
Last night we camped out at the local resovour for Chadron. Mosquitoes were terrible. Papa took a little “birthday” swim in the water if you know what I mean.
The weather has been great for the most part so far, with the exception of a really bad storm that threatened ro rain on us, but did no such thing.
It is thirty eight miles to Northport. That is where we plan to spend the night. Maybe we will stay at a campground, maybe in some ditch off the side of the road, or maybe in a motel. It depends on how much everyone needs a hot shower.
We have acquired quite a little gang of guys here traveling across the country. A plan for a father/son bonding adventure has turned into a sort of big ride spin off. We will probably loose all appendages by Denver, CO.
Just two miles outside Alliance, there is a touristy place called “Carhenge”. The name is rather self-descriptive, but is worth a photograph or two anyway. They say that it is anatomically correct to the real thing, although it’s asterological significance is probably somewhat debatable.
I look forward to many more adventures in the week and a half to come.
Look for more messages from Northport.
Tom
(from here on, Gary and I have begun our own cross-country road trip, leaving the Big Ride Group behind)
day one of reality
Hi everyone. Ever since papa arrived in Rapid city, I have not had the time to do any email. He managed to find emails that were not sorted in the right, so I had much to catch up on. Thanks for the cool feedback.
Most kids are embarrassed when they are seen with their parents in front of their peers because they are so un-cool. But with papa, it seems to be the other way around. As soon as he came he had instantly befriended half the people in camp and orginazed a shuttle of about ten people to go down to Mt. Rushmore to see the fireworks in the previa. How lucky I am to have such great support.
Yesterday night was the first time I had actually seen Rushmore in real life. It was actually a bit smaller that what I had expected, but that may have been because the ampitheatre in which we watched the fireworks was so far back. A very good firework show nonetheless. I would like very much to go back and see the mountain in daylight. Maybe some other trip.
Today, we will try to go see the carving in progress, “Crazyhorse”. Papa says that Rushmore is “nothin’ compared to Crazyhorse” I don’t know much about it yet, but will report in detail afterwards.
Word got out that Papa and I were taking a van through Colorado and one of the bike tech people asked if he could come along as far as Denver. It sounds like a good deal, seeins that I will have free bicycle support for half the trip.
Love, Thomas
(while still with the GTE Big Ride group)
Gillette, Wyoming
Yesterday’s message was somewhat incomplete due to a surprise hailstorm, followed by heavy showers, lotsa lightning, and even a few funnel clouds! There were apparently two heavy storms headed for one another and collided very close to the campground. Haphazard “emergency precautions” were initiated and everyone was forced to sleep inside a barn near the campsite.
I say haphazard because it didn’t seem like anyone who was supposed to know anything didn’t seem to know what was going on. I was scared not because of the possibility of tornadoes, but because of the way things were being handled. It was really impressive to see the weather change from hot and sunny to dark, wet and hailing within the time frame of about fifteen minutes. Rumor has it that tonight is supposed to be similar with heavy storms and lightning. It’s still hard to believe. We are staying in a town of about three or four thousand. Campground is at the only elementary school in town. I am probably going to sleep inside the school just to be on the safe side.
Yesterday’s town, Gillette is a coal mining town. Next to the campsite, there was a display of various mining tools, including a windmill, train, and a really big ass truck. From a distance, it looked like an ordinary utility truck, but on one’s closer inspection, the scale seemed to be way off. At about half a mile, it looked as if it were just across the street. Once properly adjusted to its size, it was the size of a large, two story house. It measured about eighteen feet high; the wheel twice my height. Incredible. On leaving, we saw many empty trains traveling to the coal mine. Some were literally as long as two miles.
We were staying sixty miles from “the devils tower”, the mountain where the “encounter” scene of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” was filmed. A great landmark for any rendezvous! Some people rented vans to go check it out, but another hundred and twenty mile drive on top of what I had already endured on the bus during the morning was not too appetizing.
Today is the last day in Wyoming. Tomorrow we will be staying in Rapid City, South Dakota… the fourth off day, halfway point, and also the location where I will break off from the ride. I look foreword to a celebrating the fourth for more than one reason.
While staying indoors to avoid getting struck by lightning, I tripped over some machinery and came down in the wrong position on my heel. It still hurts today and I’m worried if I will immediately be able to get back on my bicycle. I was talking with one of the bike tech people and he told me that there are some excellent routes in Colorado, especially if you have vehicle transport to the top of the mountains. Thirty mile downhill coasts are a biker’s best friend! I’m sure there will be no great shortage of good scenery in Colorado.
This is the end of the beginning of the first part of a summer to remember. I am very excited about what awaits me. XOX, Thomas Hallock
Day seventeen
Eighteen hundred hours
It’s been hot and dry and wet here in Sheridan, Wyoming. My first day in Wyoming. It seems as if as soon as we got away from Montana, all the damn ‘skeeters disappeared. Yahoo! Actually, while on duty, things got so boring, I played a game with a friend to see who could get the most mosquito bites. Nobody scored! (more…)
The ‘skeeters are huge! Off-immune vampire bugs! They are everywhere! Help!
Send Raid!!! Loosing blood!!!! (more…)
Because of a significant lack of volunteers for rider support on the GTE Big Ride, and also because of a significant lack of funds for the American Lung Association of my behalf (roughly 1/6th of the required amount, which still totals roughly one thousand dollars), I have chosen to follow a “plan B”, which includes “crewing” for half the ride, precisely from Seattle to Mount Rushmore, South Dakota. At which place and time (July 5th), I will rendezvous with my dad, officially depart from the GTE Big Ride, and begin a cross-country trek on bicycle back home. So instead of riding west to east, all bicycling will take place from north to south, a journey of unknown distance that will probably be more difficult due to coriolis winds, yet equally life-changing.
While crewing, I will send via e-mail, a regular dispatch to keep friends, family, sponsors, and a mixture thereof, informed of my daily adventures, current geographical location, the wondrous sightsand sounds, and basically, what’s going on.