gttim: Races and Stuff

Thu, 27 Feb 2003 16:15:49 GMT

Final list of teams for Tour de Georgia.

Cycling News: Teams finalised for Tour de Georgia.

A total of 18 teams have been signed up to ride the inaugural Tour de Georgia, which takes place from April 22-27. Sidermec, Flanders IteamNova and Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave are the most recent additions to the list, which includes Rabobank and a Dutch national team, as well as the main U.S. and Canadian teams. The full team list is as follows:

7UP/Nutra Fig
Colavita-Bolla
Flanders IteamNova
Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave
Jelly Belly/Carlsbad Clothing
Jittery Joe's Coffee
Navigators
Netherlands national team
Ofoto/Lombardi Sports
Prime Alliance
Rabobank
Saturn
Schroeder Iron
Sierra Nevada/Cannondale
Sidermec
Team West Virginia
U.S. Postal Service presented by Berry Floor
Webcor/Alto Velo

The name of the race still seems stupid. How about "Ya'll's Tour of Gawga."

Wed, 12 Feb 2003 15:28:45 GMT

Get you own $850 trike!

Cycling News: Litespeed.

[F]or the toddler who has everything, Litespeed has re-issued the titanium tricycle. Originally released in 1997, Litespeed claims the wee trikes have become collector's items, with eager mums and dads willing to pay over US$1000 for an original.

Starting in March, however, the 2003 edition trike comes in at US$850. It's made from 3/2.5 and 6/4 titanium, with new compact geometry, CNC-engraved and anodized aluminum fork rolling on a Cane Creek C2 headset. Could your kid want more?

These used to be hot items for the Litespeed crowd. Many bikeshops actually had them in stock so that the employees could race around the store on them.

Thu, 30 Jan 2003 21:11:53 GMT

Cannondale Bicycles files for bankruptcy.

Inside Triathlon: Cannondale to file for Bankruptcy.

Cycling News Cannnondale files for Bankruptcy.

Wow! Cannondale used to be a big hitter. It looks like management made some very bad decisions. The motorsports division is certainly dragging the company down. I can also look back to few years ago when the national sales rep and a VP tried to preassure a local bike shop, which was one of the largest Cdale dealers in the country, into changing it sales practices. The shop began pushing Giant and Merlin because they were so pissed off. When I sold bikes on weekends, I thought the national sales rep was a dick, and so made an effort not to sell Cdales. I didn't want any money going into his pocket.

"Cannondale has also reached an agreement in principle with Pegasus Partners II, L.P. to sell substantially all of its assets to Pegasus Partners, subject to better and higher offers and court approval. Pegasus would operate the bicycle business with the involvement of current management and would purchase separately the Company's motorsports assets, including the intellectual property related to the design of Cannondale's motorsports products."

At least GT could blame everything on the guy running the company dying.

Tue, 14 Jan 2003 02:16:20 GMT

You have to love great customer service.

I had a very old CycleOps fluid trainer so that I can "ride" my bicycle indoors. This trainer was at least 8 years old, and I had used it well. Now I have heard many stories about CycleOps fluid trainers begining to leak, but mine had been rock solid. Well, it finally began leaking. It began leaking puddles of fluid. Luckily, it does have a lifetime warranty. So I call CycleOps at Graber Products, the company's new owner. They explain that they bought CycleOps a few years ago, and have since changed the designs significantly. They cannot repair it, but they offer me a warranty upgrade. For $100, and my old fluid unit, I get their new Fluid2 trainer, a $300 trainer. I hop all over that deal, 'cause that is what I really wanted. I send them my old fluid unit, tracking it through UPS I see they get the delivery on the 6th, and on the 9th I am riding my new trainer. The turn around time was incredible. The Fluid 2 is a very well designed piece of equipment. At a nice steady speed its volume is lower than a whisper and the resistance is smooth and steeply progressive at higher speeds.

I am one happy camper!

Fri, 03 Jan 2003 21:05:55 GMT

Salon's Kaufman argues Serena Williams as Sports Person of the Year Award.

Since I know that Lance Armstrong was not even the best cyclist last year, I won't get into a debate about Lance vs. Serena. I won't even argue how to define sportsman or sportswoman vs. athlete, which I feel are different. Lets get to the really stupid statement.

.....he won one race in a sport so obscure that most Americans can't even name another of its events, and so limited that its skill set can be described thusly: pedaling fast and not falling over.

Uhh,.. well no. That is not really correct on several points.

Obscure events? To most Americans, yes. I suppose most Europeans could not many many football teams other than the Dallas Cowboys. I think most people in the world knows who the US Postal Teams is now. At least in Europe.

Lance not only has to pedal fast and not fall over to win a grand tour he needs to be able to pedal fast for long periods of time, up mountains, down mountains at 60+ miles an hour into really nasty curves on them, by himself, with a team, and with a peloton. Physically, he has to train to be able climb, time trial, and even sprint. Most great riders cannot become great grand tour riders because their body cannot take the abuse for three weeks.

Mentally there is a lot going on also. As a team leader he has to instruct his team on how to race. He has to be a race general. (You don't think Michael Vick just tells everybody to run around until they are open, do you?) There is much strategy in a grand tour; for the whole race, for each stage, for each mountain climb. Strategy will change as teams attack, or riders withdraw.

Saying the skill set needed to win the Tour is being able to pedaling fast and not falling over is like saying that the only skill set needed to win a major tennis tournament is to run fast and hit a yellow ball over net. It is asinine.

Of course I would never really take any column or article from Salon on sports seriously. I don't think watching TV and knowing how to type is all that is needed in the skill set to be a sports reporter or columnist.

Update: And of course Kaufman is getting flamed, but I have a feeling that is what he was hoping for.

Thu, 02 Jan 2003 03:24:44 GMT

Old Cycling photos.

I just posted a few old cycling photos from the late '90's. Of interest to bike geeks only.

Mon, 30 Dec 2002 13:55:18 GMT

Who was the athlete of the year?

Well, you have to get the correct people on the list. For the men, at least they included Lance Armstrong and Barry Bonds. Mario Cipollini was more dominant than Lance in cycling this year, winning more grand tour stages and the World Championships. He should have at least made the list. To have a women's list without Paula Radcliff is moronic, however. She only shattered the Women's world marathon record this year, as well as dominated on the track.

Super Mario, aka the Lion King.

Paula Radcliffe.

Mon, 30 Dec 2002 02:45:35 GMT

I leave town and everybody gets fired!

Curt Fraser and Tim Bothwell, head coach and assistant coach of the Atlanta Thrashers, were fired. I don't know if this is the answer to the Thrasher's problems, but some people think it will help. I think playing better defense is going to help more than anything. I will mention that both games I was at were won by the Thrashers. Perhaps giving me some tickets would help? I like them about 8 rows off the ice near either goal.

Lon Kruger, head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, was fired. I quit watching pro basketball many years ago, so can't really comment on this at all. Kruger says that he was suprised by the firing. At 11-16, that may be like saying you were surprised that Harpo Marx's wife died at age 94.

Since Stan Kasten seems to be in charge of two failing franchises, maybe he should be the one to go?

Evidently Christopher Rude, previous longtime morning show and more recently afternoon drivetime DJ, was let go by 96Rock sometime recently. Since he was one of the reasons I gave up on radio in Atlanta, I had no idea he was not on the air anymore. It looks like he was replaced by two guys who are similar to the pair of idiots who run the morning show. The new guys' claim to fame seem to be "Heterosexual Pride Parade" and "Homeless Survivor." Aren't you just all excited and all?

Before I left for Christmas, Glavine and Millwood vanished from the Braves roster. Furman Bisher has some thoughts on that. However, if I had a nickle for everytime he has been wrong..... well, I wouldn't be writing $17 million checks to a church, but Fisher is old and often wrong, so I would have some spare change to toss in the collection dish.

Sat, 21 Dec 2002 15:03:47 GMT

Looking for nude Romanian gymnast photos?

I am starting to get many google hits looking for them. The photos of Claudia Presecan, Lavinia Milosovici, and Corina Ungureanu can be found here. No not "here" but here. (Used to be here, but the account was supended.) Not that I would post their names and phrases like "naked gymnasts" or "nude balance beam" in an attempt to get more google hits. I guess I can show two of the less revealing pics.

From left, Claudia Presecan, Lavinia Milosovici, and Corina Ungureanu at a press conference.

They each received about $40,000 for appearing in the Japanese DVD, which in Romania is probably a hell of a lot of money. The scenes filmed are not pornographic. The girls, or now women, were filmed performing on standard gymnastic apparatuses. While there have been many other stars who have posed nude, this may be the first time any have done so while performing underfull athletic sweat. The ban, which is not actually for posing nude but for using the emblems of the Romanian national team, should have little effect on the three gymnasts as they no longer compete internationally, and they can still coach in other countries. Ungureanu has appeared nude before, in a 1999 Romanian edition of playboy.

By the way, these are not the svelte young girls you saw perfoming in the Olympics. They are older, and no longer have their competitive physique.

More stories on other athletes posing nude:

Australian Athletes comment on Romanian women.

Japanese officials livid over nude photos and DVD.

Thu, 19 Dec 2002 23:10:51 GMT

Three Romanian gymnasts, all former Olympic medal winners, have been banned by the Romanian Gymnastics Federation for appearing nude in a Japanese adult show.

I certainly hope safe sex and birth control was used if anything sexual happened. However, I can't think of much to say other than "where can I get a copy of the tape?"

Independent Online reports:

The trio had "tarnished the image of gymnastics" with their naked performance on apparatus such as the balance beam in a DVD filmed in Chiba prefecture outside Tokyo...

Another story here.

The gymnasts, including Sydney Gold Medalist Claudia Presecan, Double Olympic gold medalist Lavinia Milosovici and Corina Ungureanu, have not denied appearing nude, but did say the images have been doctored.

Lavinia Milosovici on the floor exercise.

I can see google getting busy when this story breaks.

Thu, 19 Dec 2002 17:40:43 GMT

Cippollini's and Pantani's merger of teams is now off again.

The idea of these two Italian superstars on the same cycling team has been floated around for a few months. The Italian people would love it! The top Italian climber and the best sprinter in the world, who happens to be Italian, on the same team! The negotiations have completely bogged down. Pantani has refused to allow his image to be marketed by the team. The deal looks dead. Cipollini's new team will be known as Domina Vacanze-Elitron-RDZ. Pantani, who has not won a race in many years, has an uncertain future.

In other cycling news 1997 Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich is still entertaining offers from some teams. It is uncertain where the young troubled star will end up.

Thu, 12 Dec 2002 16:46:03 GMT

One columnist's amusing look at cycling as a sport.

It's just that -- let's face it -- bicycling isn't a sport. Ever heard of a Fantasy Bicycle League? No, you haven't. If the season doesn't start with a bunch of guys gathering around a keg and holding a draft, it isn't a real sport. Although bicycling does have one thing in common with the upcoming SI swimsuit issue: The swimsuit models shave their legs, as do bicycle racers, to cut down on wind resistance.

At least that's their story. But I don't believe them. You'd have to be hairier than the Abominable Snowman to get slowed down on a bicycle by your own hair.

Actually, we shave our legs to piss off guys like you! There is no other reason.

Besides, this is America, where it's not considered a real sport unless it comes with a beer ad. When famous bicycle riders start appearing in Coors commercials in a hot tub next to "the Twins," I'll know bicycling has become a sport. Now, I've got to go shave my legs.

We may not have a beer commercial, but we have a Norelco commercial! "What's that?" "Guuu???!!!"

Actually a very funny piece. Lance Amstrong, Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year, is probably laughing his ass off.

Thu, 05 Dec 2002 17:02:42 GMT

DaimlerChrysler to sponsor Tour de Georgia

Yes Georgia will have its own International Cycling Union (UCI) stage race in 2003, the Tour de Georgia. There will be only 9 US events on the UCI's race calendar in 2003, and Georgia will hold longest, if not only, stage race. This is really a big deal to the cycling community.

Now the race has world class sponsor in DaimlerChrysler. They will provide cash and vehicles to the race. Dodge will be the official Tour de Georgia car.

The race is expected to bring $30 million in economic development for Georgia over the next five years. There should be a noticeable bounce in tourism. Perhaps there even will be a higher visibility of cycling as a sport and recreational activity that will improve automobile and bike relations. Nah, scratch that last statement. I will still be forced off the road by power hungry drivers.

Now if they can only change the stupid name. At least call it the Tour of Georgia.

Tue, 03 Dec 2002 04:01:19 GMT

Thrashers vs. Capitals

I was at the Atlanta Thrasher's game Sunday afternoon. What an exciting time. Hockey is just a blast in person. I would rather be at a hockey game than a baseball or football game. It is just fast entertainment with very little down time.

Exciting stuff?! The girl behind me got nailed in the throat with a puck in the first period. Although scared and shaken up, like I would be if I had been hit with a puck traveling almost 100 miles an hour, she was okay. To make matters worse, in the confusion she sat in her nachos making a big mess. Her dad almost caught the puck before it hit her, but he had to come over from three seats away. I didn't even get to reach for it. I saw it come off the stick, just over the glass headed straight for me, and was pulling my girlfriend back when it sliced up and by us. (Yes, I was pulling her out of the way, not in front of me.) Like most hockey fans, the injured girl was tough and managed to get back in her seat for the second period. Oh yeah!

Later in the game, 6' 6" Thrasher Andy Sutton on a fast break not only scored, but he also laid out the defenseman and goalie, and then landed on top of them. What a way to add insult to injury! For a big guy, he managed to be in on a few fast breaks. He is a great young player.

Did I mention Sumo Hockey between periods?

I do have one serious complaint. Who are the wussies sitting in front of the glass? At the old Atlanta Night games people were on the glass beating the hell out of it. At all the games I have seen this season, nobody is on the glass. Okay two girls were slapping at it like President Bush slapping at multi-syllable word, but nobody was beating it hard when a Thrasher had an opponent pinned up against it. We need people on the glass who are vicious and have major mental problems. How about pulling people out of the cheap seats every game and putting them on the glass? How about letting the Atlanta police bring some state prisoners there instead of to the Fulton County lockup?

Well, the Thrashers won. The new free agent goalie Dafoe was not spectacular in any sense of the word, but neither was Atlanta's defense. Still the game was exciting and great family fun.

Sun, 01 Dec 2002 16:16:07 GMT

Overall female winner of the Atlanta Marathon is former cycling champ.

Phyllis Tuggle crossed the finish line in just under 3 hours to become the overall female winner of the Atlanta Marathon. Bundled up heavily on the cold Thanksgiving morning, Phyllis ran her first marathon in three years after being urged on by her husband and brother-in-law to sign up for the race.

Phyllis Tuggle's maiden name is Phyllis Hines She is the most decorated female cyclist ever from Georgia. During her career she won 4 National Championships, silver and bronze medals in the World Time Trial Championships, and was a member of the winning team in the1989 Tour de France Feminine. Had her specialty, time trialing, been a female sport in the Olympics during her peak racing years, she undoubtedly would have one of those medals on her racing resume.

How did her husband fare? Well he ran the half marathon. Her brother-in-law did not run at all, and he may be in big trouble.

Sign of the race was obviously: "Don't You Wish Phidippides had died here?" that somebody was holding around mile 20 of the race. If you don't get the joke, click here.

Thu, 21 Nov 2002 14:10:50 GMT

• ECO Challenge illnesses "icky."

After reading that story, maybe I will ponder how many additional adventure races I may do next year.

Crawford reported that many racers developed large, acne-like pustules on their arms and legs in addition to boils, abscesses and staph infections from bacteria, which entered through cuts as racers hacked their way through almost impenetrable jungle and thick bamboo fields.

Yuck!

Wed, 13 Nov 2002 18:08:43 GMT

•Atlanta cyclist killed on training ride.

David Martin, a longtime Atlanta area cyclist, was killed during a training ride in Emerson, Georgia on November 4th. He was killed by a motorist. Details are sketchy, and there appears to be little coverage in the press. Martin raced for the Fulton Flyers Cycling Club and Genesis Scuba Cycling Team. As a cyclist he was a fearless sprinter and feared by other teams. He had excelled at collegiate, amateur and professional cycling. As a man, he was a husband, father, and loyal friend, according to those that knew him.

Sat, 19 Oct 2002 04:06:59 GMT

Paula Radcliff and Tim Montgomery have been placed on the IAAF shortlist for athletesof the year.

Britain's Radcliff blew away the woman's marathon record in Chicago last week. She also set the 10,000 meter record during the summer. Montgomery broke the 3-year-old 100 meter mark previously held by Maurice Greene. The athletes of the year will be announced in November.

Thu, 17 Oct 2002 04:14:18 GMT

Ryan Bolton is 4th pro to drop out of Hawaiian Ironman.

As we rapidly approach Saturdays Hawaiian Ironman World Championship, a fourth highly respected pro has dropped out. America's own 2000 Olympic triathlete and winner of this year's Ironman USA Lake Placid, Ryan Bolton, has pulled out of the race after a bout food poisoning. Bolton, a run specialist, had a three year plan to build up to a high finish at Hawaii. Last year he was 142nd as he raced to get a feel for the Ironman distance and the famed course. This year he planned to mix it up on the run. It is unclear where the food poisoning was contracted.

President Bush, in a late press conference, blamed the incident on Iraq's biological weapons program, and suggested immediate invasion.

Tue, 15 Oct 2002 18:56:11 GMT

Grandissimo! Cipollini flies like an aeroplano in Zolder!

This was the first Italian pro road cycling title in a decade. Italians pride themselves on their cyclists, and it had been too long.

Cipollini is led out by an incredibly strong Italian team, and sails in for the win. His two main opponents, Robbie McEwen and Eric Zabel wasted energy trying to bump each other off Cipo's wheel to no avail. Neither were going to pass the Lion King in this sprint.

Guido Trenti, the "Italian" racing on the US team did not work for Cipo as many expected. As he said he would, he worked for American Freddie Rodriguez. However at the end it was just the two of them. No other Americans made it to the finish with the lead pack. Guido Trent ended up being the top American fifnisher at 16th, but still did not know enough English to be interviewed by American press- like there would be any at a cycling World Championships.

The full story and all the other races from the World Championships at Cycling News, the only place for your cycling news.

Fri, 11 Oct 2002 00:55:24 GMT

Is the Hawaiian Ironman World Championships becoming a triathlon version of the Ten Little Indians?

First Steve Larsen pulls out a month before the race due to nagging leg injuries.

Next Craig Walton withdraws due to fatigue from a short course season extended too long.

Now two-time champion Luc Van Lierde has removed himself from the race due to an inflammed disk.

Larsen was the unknown super cyclist who could alter the race with his bike. Craig Walton is the short course specialist who has been very successful at other Ironman races. Van Liedre is probably the most talented, but also most fragile, long distance triathlete in the world.

We will see who is left a week from Saturday.

Tue, 08 Oct 2002 03:11:31 GMT

The Raging Russell Adventure Race.

I did my first adventure race on Saturday. It was 7 hours and 40 minutes of running, paddling, biking, bee stings, face plants, mudholes, and flat tires. The story is long, but you can read it here.

Fri, 27 Sep 2002 20:21:57 GMT

What happens when you decide to do your first triathlon, a half ironman, in an alcohol induced daze?

"Somehow this ridiculous idea had hatched in the pub last Christmas. In a stupor of alcohol, and in a pathetic attempt to make good at least one of the things that I'd said I would do before I turned 30, I had agreed to enter the UK Half-Ironman. This despite the fact that I had never done a triathlon before, didn't own a bike and could barely swim. Some decisions should never be left to the alcohol fairies. Nine months later and the morning of Sunday September 8th found me quietly praying, wishing I had done more swimming and biking and wondering how I ever thought this was a good idea."

A very amusing account of Rob Wilby's first race. The story covers the standard 6:00 am smearing of Vaseline and spraying of Pam as you get into your wetsuit, the craving bacon sandwiches-or some favorite food, hoping for flats, the realization that you may be walking instead of running and after finishing the miserable race the promise to never do it again.

This story illustrates why my sport of choice is the greatest. Well, maybe the greatest for anal compulsives.

Sat, 21 Sep 2002 13:40:17 GMT

Oscar Sevilla still leads the Vuelta.

This is Oscar. Does he look 12 or 13 years-old?

Thu, 19 Sep 2002 23:27:35 GMT

Bob Hayes, dead at 59.

The only athlete to win an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring has died. Bob Hayes was once referred to as the "fastest human alive," but preferred to be called a football player instead of a sprinter.

His battles with drugs and alcohol, and a stint in prison have kept him out of the Football Hall of Fame, which left him feeling like an outsider. He has been inducted into the Track and Field Hall of Fame. Jerry Jones inducted him into the Cowboys Ring of Fame last year.

Hayes won the gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in the 100 meters with a time of 10.05 seconds. In the 400 meter relay he was clocked during his split at 8.6 seconds, with a running start. Many people consider that leg of the relay as the most explosive sprint they had ever seen.

Hayes died of Kidney failure, but has battled liver trouble and prostate cancer during his tumultuous life.