Bike Parking at Sammy's

Cycling Gifts for the Hero

Available at Pro Bike Kit. Maybe for Ben Hero?

2009 Tenspeedies

In the coming days nominations will be delivered to your Internet mailbox to award the 2009 Tenspeedies. If you feel that you have a category that needs to be invented please send one to this blog. Right now we have:

Hero of the Year:
Best Attack:
Best Chase:
Most Epic Crash:
Most Futile Attack:
Comeback Rider of the Year:
Toughest Hero:
Most Likely to Dope in the 2010:

Hard Day

Todd Demonstrates how to keep his Look 585 clean.

Kevin Half Acre watches his rival, looking for any sign of weakness.

Victory did not shine on the Double Loop Winner, Todd Hero.

Today we mixed up the double loop with a few twists and turns and got the ride back up to 63 miles. The course was demanding due to a few areas of mud or soft limestone. By the time we got to Wheaton the extra effort took its toll. Kevin Half Acre (Brazos Peludos for his fan club) muscled his way all the way back to Villa Park taking his first well earned victory with six riders participating. Todd Hero and Patrick Hero rounded out the podium. Their prize was pumpkin pie watered down with Point Beer and Coffee which turned out to be every Hero's prize as we rolled in.

ten speed tips

Tip No. 1: Douse your bike in embrocation.



*based on a true story.

Ride like a TDF star

Happy Cranksgiving

I wanted my first post under my tenspeedhero login to be extra awesome, and now it is because I just got my second bike, my most beautiful bike of all time, the De Rosa Neo Primato in red. It is coming to us from Sammy's where you all are known for drinking all the beans, but I will be know for having the most epically beautiful Neo Primato. There are already debates around here as to how epically it will be built up. I want to use all silver parts in the Epic Tradition of cycling. To quote Luke "Ben Hero is going to flip when he hears what you want to do to the bars," so Ben, don't flip, all you heros just need to embrace the future non-carbon-epic-ness of this beauty.

On a Winter's Day

Heroes Making a Film

The Loop is Won in Batavia

Ben Hero Batavia

Getting Ready for the Loop

The Calm Before the Storm

Jennifer Twice

Two Views in Chicago

Eddy Merckx and a Friend

White Merckx and Asian Bull

Looking for Starved Rock

Des Plaines River

I Know Where The Summer Went

Todd Hero in Central Illinois

New Colnago Fork

The C-40 Mapei is going to see some changes in 2010. First I am replacing the Star Carbon Fork with a NOS Colnago Prescia fork I picked up on Ebay because I want to start running 25 mm tires on this bike and the fork tolerances are so tight that I have only been running 23 mm tires. The fork is supposedly from the early 90's and has a nice gloss black finish with silver paint decals. Apparently the first c40's ran with these forks before Colnago came up with the Star.

Epic Rapha

Tom Boonen to ride Eddy Merckx Bikes

Eddy Merckx bikes to be ridden by Quickstep

Cat 2 to Radio Shack

http://www.velonews.com/article/100082/from-cat-2-to-radioshack

I think we saw this a few weeks ago.

Hipsters discussing Cyclocross

Team Tenspeed Hero-Taco Bell

The 2010 Tenspeed Hero Tour (Proposal)

Stage One-30 (7.2 miles) lap prologue time trial At Northbrook Velodrome (Saturday)

Stage Two-Double Loop (92 miles) (Saturday Same Day)
Rule: Every team puts one rider in the morning break. The Strong will
chase the less strong.

Stage Three-Single Loop Team Time Trial (56 miles) (Sunday)
Rule: Top Two Riders Time counts to overall

Three Person Teams

Total Distance 155.2 miles

Top 30 Cyclists of all time.

Unsung Hero

First mechanical about two doors down from the start.

But in exceptional Hero fashion, Matt soldiered on and valiantly caught the group.

Don't let the photo mislead you; Matt is not in the back. The photographer is behind him. Our race photographers are on bikes, not motor bikes.
Matt Hero needs to be recognized, not for being the strongest rider, but for riding with honor. He rides hard and he rides because he loves to ride. No excuses. Cheers.

Sidi 2010

There is a joke about Taco Bell coming up with new Menu Items every year but only one thing does not change...the ingredients. They outdid themselves with this one and came up with a Black Taco shell. I am sure 20 years ago it was the same taco year after year and then they realized Leo Burnett was charging them alot of money for nothing and now they feel like they are getting their money's worth.


In this light I think Sidi came up with their own Black Jack Taco. Looks like the same Ergo 2 with the same old ingredients: carbon soles, heel cup, techno II buckle, lorica...just new colors. Of course I do not want to criticize the lack of technological developments cause I think Matt Hero and Joe hero would look pretty cool in these Black Jack Sidi's. My only problem with the Ergo 2 in any color is they are tighter than my same size Sidi 6.6 by about an inch across the ball of the foot. I really think they should come measure some american feet and change their fit. Maybe the Tenspeed Heroes should all get the same colored Sidi's so the poor people on the Prarie Path can have one identifying characteristic to tell the police about...

Just an Idea

I know this may seem strange but anyone want to get in a double-loop in a less stressful way. Like maybe a double-loop that includes a lunch and a leisurely pace. I do not want to let this season go away. Or maybe a Wednesday before thanksgiving drive out do Galena and to some hill-hopping? Or the friday after thanksgiving.....

Have you guys checked this out yet?

Lance, Klodi and Milram?

I took this picture in France on the Ventoux this summer because I thought that when I had the time I would try to solve this riddle. Months later I am not sure whether I am any closer. Jonathan Hero and I tried to break the riddle by nationality, transfer season dreams, appreciation of said cyclists for Milram Milk products but to no avail. It is kind of strange to write down your favorite team and then write down the captains of team Astana. If you have an idea on why this trifecta was created give it a try. I will get an autograph from Todd Hero for your efforts.

Dear Todd,

What happened out there on the path? Is this art you practice teachable? At what point did you know it could happen? We want to learn. You made us proud.

The Heroes

Stories From the Double: Joe Hero

Jonathan Hero and I were looking at this picture of Joe Hero and we realized Joe got dropped near the windmill and was caught in between the lead group and the chase pack. Now every Hero has been dropped at one time or another and had to face the trail alone but if I am correct this was Joe Hero's second loop ever. This means he chased for 20 miles early in the day, into the wind, and with just a faint notion of the route. Enough said.

The Double Loop: A Westerner's Perspective

No, Half Acre butts do not drive me nuts. Nevertheless, Half Acre Butts (and Todd's butt) were my view all too often on the Double Loop. I was hoping that hours in the saddle climbing at high altitude in Idaho would make me stronger than it did. It turns out 92 miles is difficult at 20+ miles and hour even in the relatively flat lands of Illinois. Todd, yes that Todd, generously offered to work with me as did Kevin and Zach (an all steel bike podium), but it was not to be.

For the Record

There were many moments out on the Double Loop of note but for the record, the Roll Call of Honor Goes Like this:

FIRST PLACE.........Todd Hero
SECOND PLACE.....Zach Acre-Hero
THIRD PLACE........Isaiah Acre-Hero

Portrait of a Winner

Can you look in a Hero's eyes and tell he is going to have a special day? After looking at the photographs from our staff photographer it was obvious. The french call it "tranquillement". Todd took the Autumn Double Loop with style in just over 5 hours and came in alone, Hero Style.

This picture reveals the Autumn Double Loop winner drinking a gatorade and sharing a laugh with Sammy at Sammy's Bikes. Three cheers for our champion. Some say he can do the Double-Double in 2010. Summer Champion and Autumn Champion. Tonight we sing his name, TODD! TODD! TODD!

Am I supposed to ride from Glen Ellyn to St.Charles on perrier water?

Floyd Landis first claimed that his remarkable comeback (and unusual testosterone levels) was caused by the consumption “beer and whisky” the night before stage 17. I am hoping that this theory is viable -- as I am sure I and other heroes will not be able to resist consumption tonight. So Heroes beware--Landis made back almost 4 min on a steep mountain stage.

A Hero's Prayer

O Cycling Gods Please let me have no flats
May my cables be as strong as Sammy's Espresso
Grant me several green lights and a few red ones to my foes.

May my knee warmers not slip and my Chamois be smooth
And please Lord of two-wheels Make Zach go slow on the first 50!

Attack on the Double: Not for the Meek

So you want to be that kind of Hero.

Have you properly prepared yourself for defeat on Sunday?

We are never deceived; We deceive ourselves.

Ben and I rode The Mounds last Sunday. This photograph was taken at the top of the longest and most deceptive climb.

At first approach you think it looks something like this.

It's actually more like this.

More from the Platzerwasel

These are the guys who thought it would be a good idea to yell into our tent. There were other things keeping us awake our first night at the Tour De France: Driving rain, parking our tent and inch and a half from the road, Luke's "kid the night before Christmas-like" excitement...

A Hero's Guide to Weight Loss

Jon Hero Touches Down Wednesday For Art Conference and the Double Loop

Jonathan Hero

De Fietsfabriek Chicago

Today I was riding up North Wells Street and found the Dutch Bicycle Factory owned and operated by Jon Lind. Our friend Amy Joy in Amsterdam told us about Jon's shop and import business but I could never quite figure where he was located. To be precise his shop is located at 1311 N. Wells Street. This beautiful Cargo bike was parked outside the shop and of course I tried to imagine how much Belgium Beer and Polish Kielbasa one could fit in a Dutch Bike and then I realized that idea sounded like a mathematical word problem or worse a bad joke. Jon is a good bloke and gave me some of the details of the shop and history. Good guy and I think we will have to have a beer at Publican so he can tell the Heroes more. He is delivering a bunch of bikes out west on a Road Trip extravaganza so if you are near the Rockies give him a call and get your De Fietsfabriek delivered for the holidays or near there.

The rest of the afternoon was spent riding up the lake path on my White Merckx. This really is about the most comfortable road bike I have ever ridden. Something about that old steel fork makes it corner really well and I think adds some balance to the bike. I actually wore shorts without knee warmers today. Many people on the Lake Path were doing the same. Not sure if my efforts can be called training but I tried to get a work out for the upcoming Double Loop. We'll see if it helped this Sunday....

Rocky Canyon

Just as I was stripping off my t-shirt in order to put on my jersey, I received a text from none other than Jason Bauer. "Ride Bikes today?" read the text. “Yes,” texted I. Jason is just what I needed to up the pace (miles, difficulty), of my Sunday ride.

Jason suggested the Marina ride, a ride that we could have easily turned into a 60 miler. But during the ride he suggested Rocky Canyon. That would turn the ride in to a true loop, which is always a plus and a particular plus when the "out" of an out and back was aided by a friendly tail wind. You know as well as I do how those friendly tail winds can turn on you when you turn around.

But the Rocky Canyon loop was not all gravy, even if the road looked like gravy. Above is the section of road where my bike came to a complete stop and I fell sideways and landed on my camera. Camera weathered the fall fine (I hope).

Although the first section of dirt, the climb, was steep, slow and occasionally muddy, I found the descent to be particularly brutal. Washboard, potholes, rocks. Speaking of rocks, Jason descended like one (compared to me, who tried to descend like a feather but descended more like that thing right between a rock and a feather). Still speaking of rocks, Jason hit some and got pinch flats on both wheels. When I caught up to him he was as good-natured as ever and looked to be resigned to the long walk home. Neither of us had a patch kit. Neither of us had a, let alone two, spare tubes with long enough stems for his aero rims.

But then MacGyver, sorry, Jason proceeded to tie a knot in the rear tube. And quicker than I can install a brand knew, unknotted tube, he put the tube back on the wheel.

When that held air, he did the same to the front wheel. Then he successfully rode 5 or 6 miles home.

What did I do while Jason’s diligently worked out this act of ingenuity? I stared, open-mouthed, amazed at his positive attitude and ability to preserver. And then I stared at my shoes that no longer matched.