Mechanical Doping!!!!

Italian conspiracy theory that mechanical doping may exist and Cancellera may be guilty.

Got to admit, if there was any truth in this I would be so disappointed but would love it too.

I am not going there myself.

Classics Project - Amstel Gold.

Amstel Gold
2010 - Ink on paper - 18" x 12"

Gilbert is such a powerful rider.

Classic and Antique Bike Exchange

If you have ever watched an episode of 'American Pickers' you will know that the main picker is a bicycle and bike fanatic. Antique bikes that is. He loves nothing more than to uncover a rusty bent frame from under two tarpaulins covered in dung in the middle of a field in southern Iowa for example. I visited his company's website - 'Antique Archaeology' - and found the link to this site and forum for all those antique bike fans and restorers. To be honest I don't really know what I am looking at - but these caught my eye.

Site here: The Classic and Antique Bicycle Exchange

Aussie rules

The mechanic running with the bike is non other than Neil Stephens, Director Sportif at Caisse d'Epargne, he was riding pillion on a motorbike which ran into problems. The quick thinking Aussie hardman did what came naturally - Good on ya mate.

Bi-King

Designer SungKug Kim is presenting these inspired handlebars at the ICFF in NYC right now. The bars are actually wood, not horn, so no rams or deer were harmed in the creation of these bars.


Visit DesignKug to see more.

Pooley wins

Yet again the mainstream cycling media under reports women's racing - notice I mainly say this when a Brit wins something? But still women's racing in general deserves more coverage. It is often filled with great combative riding. Emma Pooley is one such rider, last year she won the Montreal World Cup race by attacking after 16 seconds and soloing to the finish 110km later.

Yesterday she claimed the Tour de l'Aude stage race by 4:42 over Mara Abbott.
She won one stage and took second on another after she and Mara rode away from the field on stage 4. Also want to point out the Cervelo Test Team won the prologue, the TTT and another stage with British rider Elizabeth Armistead.

It just goes to show that you can win the world's biggest races on British tea and cake alone.

Photo seen on Cyclingnews and originally from CJ Farquharson on Womenscycling.net

On the road

Called in to some pretty interesting spots whilst driving 800+ miles of I-80.
Molly needed a break from the car on our way to Omaha on day one and we took a chance on a sign that read 'Food - 1 mile'. 'Food' happened to be Betty's Kitchen in Walnut, Iowa. Walnut claims to be Antiques heaven. We were mainly looking for food and a playground. Food was poor, the playground at the school was amazing (seriously) and here are two of the more interesting sights in the town.




Google Map: Walnut.

Bicycles! 150 years of gears.

Well after two days of driving, 18 hours of travelling with a wonderful 2 year old who made it much easier than it should have been, I couldn't face the thought of another hour each way to Longmont.

So glad I did. What a great little exhibition. Maybe 50 bikes displayed in this beautifully designed space amongst the glint of gleaming chrome and the smell of weathered leather. They have a varied collection including a boneshaker from 1869, a stayer from 1908 and the very bike that Andy Hampsten rode over the Gavia in 1988.

Whilst I was there on a Friday afternoon there was a constant flow of 'old boys' walking into the exhibit and discussing amongst themselves the tyres they used to ride on, that they hadn't seen that frame since they were children etc even a guy of around my age who told me it was emotional to see a particular BMX frame there as he used to ride professionally for the same team but had his bike stolen years ago.

The mix of the bikes on display, programmed events at the museum and stories from the visitors make this an exhibit not to miss if you are within striking distance. I am no bike expert but I took pictures of whatever caught my eye and you can see the set here at Flickr.



Visit the exhibit's website here: Longmont Historical Museum.

Back in Chicago

Here is a little teaser, it may take some time to get the bike exhibit photos sorted out.
Well worth the visit though.