Do you remember your first ride?

Ryder Jay from isaiah jay on Vimeo.

Dairy Queen

On Friday night, Sean Hero, Jessica, Allison, and myself met up for an after-work firkin-guzzling and sandwich-eating contest at In Fine Spirits and Hamburger Mary's. All of us consumed an average of 1,300 calories worth of food and alcohol, leaving us to repent for our sins with a long ride the next day.

Saturday morning, Sean and I, along with Todd Hero, loaded up the SAAB and headed out to do a single loop of the Double Loop. We swore on Pantani that we'd not put in any hard digs because we all wanted to save our legs for the NCC/HAC Gravel Metric on Sunday, but you know how it goes.

Highlights:

1. Todd and I sprinting up a bridge. Sean was tired and wasn't interested in sprinting up a bridge.
2. Todd and I taking hard pulls in the sand. Sean was tired and wasn't interested in taking hard pulls.
3. Todd and I attacking up a hill in Elgin. Sean was tired and wasn't interested in attacking up a hill in Elgin.
4. Peering in through the windows at Sammy's and marveling at the Ciocc tandem with Campagnolo Record.

And most importantly:

5. Dairy Queen in Wheaton.

Todd Hero: Mint chocolate chip Blizzard
Zach Hero: Banana split Blizzard
Sean Hero: Fudge Heath Blizzard and Coke

Sean also got a medium Blizzard whereas Todd and I each opted for small.

Non-highlights:

1. The Ike.
2. Driving through Oak Park.
3. The cutout that popped the SAAB out of gear.
4. Horse manure.

Not Cool

One thing Luke Hero and I noticed early on in our foray into the BMX world is that we are not cool. You probably noticed it years ago (how cool is it to change your name to Hero?) but it took a bunch of 8 year old kids for us to finally get it.

Notice the fist bump between mom and daughter. When Luke and I met Cal Kid Rocket he did the quick handshake that is supposed to morph into a snap and then a fist bump but neither of us got it. We were left standing, mouths open with empty hands floating in handshake position. We were greeting these young athletes the way one might greet his girlfriend's father. Us: "Its a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Cal: "What's up?"

Also note the world champion stripes on this young lady's collar and the Sidi shoes. Unlike me, when these kids wear the WC stripes it actually means something.

After

Before

ABA BMX Spring Nationals Continued

I had to start this post with a shout-out (is there another word for that?) to our boy Cal Kid Rocket Bergquist. Note the name at the top of the results list below:

9 & UNDER CRUISER Total Riders = 10 Groups = 2
1 CAL (KID ROCKET) BERGQUIST, JALAPENO EXPERIENCE BMX, GILBERT, AZ
2 REID (GOT SPEED) AUSTIN, WILLOW CREEK, GRAND JUNCTION, CO
3 SIMON ( MONIE-BOLONIE) MOYA, SANDIA FIELD SERVICES, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
4 TYLER "T-BONE" KIRBERG, LITTLE DUDE COMPONENTS, PEORIA, AZ
5 GARRETT (C-YA) GARCIA, XLR8 RAC/MELLOW MUS, PEORIA, AZ
6 EVAN (LETHAL THREAT) BENNETT, X-2 RACING, FRISCO, TX
7 JOSH KIRKBY, BIKE DOCTOR, SCOTTSDALE, AZ
8 ZANDER HANSON, LITTLE DUDE COMPONENTS, CHANDLER, AZ

I do not know much about BMX racing but I think I am right in assuming Kid Rocket will be taking home at least one of these:

Cal won both of his motos.

When I was 8, the age of the boy pictured above and to the left (world Champion Jeremy Jet Boy Chandler), I was often mistaken for a girl. After what would have been an embarrassing moment had Jeremy's dad not been such a nice and understanding gent, we discovered that Jeremy is a boy. And a world champion.

That's Jeremy on the right.

When was the last time Lance Armstrong changed his chain? Or for that matter when was the last time Floyd Landis changed his... never mind.

Slow motion video demonstrating "manualing." Those of you who actually know what you're talking about, please feel free to correct me via a comment.

I meant to say occasionally mistaken for a girl. Maybe once or twice.

ABA/UCI Spring Nationals

Jonathan Hero and I spent some time in Albuquerque watching the ABA/UCI Spring Nationals with our old friends the Bergquists from Arizona. Diana gave us a crash course in the world of BMX and we got to hang with some of the Kids/Racers from Team Jalapeno Experience. Her son Cal "Kid Rocket" Bergquist is the current Arizona State Champion and can "Manual" with the best of them. Speaking of Manualing we learned alot of new words like "Case", "Cruisers", and "Rhythm Sections." Also please note that when you first take a picture of these racers they smile just like any other kid but Jon and I asked them to put their "Moto" face on. More race pictures to come...

Time Trialing Curator

Luke Hero and I stayed in Mesa AZ with, you guessed it, John Spiak. The former time trial specialist is now the curatorial museum specialist at Arizona State University.

In case you are wondering, John is indeed half of Phoenix Arizona's 2007 Best Power Couple.

Alpina Super Bike S, Made in West Germany (before the fall of the Iron Curtain)

To the heroes John Spiak will always be the 6'3" time trialing phenomenon from Southern California.

This is what the Alpina Super Bike S glasses look like on the face of an athlete.

Virtually indistinguishable from modern TT bikes.

As you can clearly see, John Spiak is an art curator with great form. Please note the curators cut and glistening legs. I would suggest clicking to view the larger size.

If you weren't at the Tenspeed Hero Loya Jirga, you better watch out. These are the only non-classified photos from the evening, and that chalk line Luke mentioned in an earlier post? Fake.

Linus Bikes

We were walking down famous Abbott Kinney Blvd in Venice Beach searching for something called Pizza Salad or Salad Pizza when Ken Hero diverted us into a bicycle shop. He knows we love bicycles but did not know that he was taking us to the World Headquarters/Brain Trust of Linus Bikes. Generous host Adam McDermott came out to greet us and talk Mixte. He and Chad Kushner started Linus five years ago and their line of bikes are functional, stylish and very affordable.

Adam saw me checking this beautiful Mixte and asked if I would ride one. Answering yes he said that they were thinking of making a larger model for Men. Now that is market research I can appreciate. I think my favorite quote of the visit was prompted when Jon and I were talking about the Linus pricing and Adam offered up, "We wanted to build functional everyday bikes but to us a $1200 bike was not functional." The Mixte is $559. I will take one in black.

Team Love

Yeah, it's fun to have a solo frothing on the top step of the podium, but it's even better to invite some of your best buds on over and slather them with the froth as well. Just look at the grins on those boys' faces as they receive a face full of foam.

One-Two

MR and DZ at the TOC doing the ITT

Pacific Grove

Luke Hero and I had a great time staying with the generous Stotz family in Pacific Grove. Karen made a delicious chicken casserole. We slept in a room through a secret door and up a ladder-steep staircase. Luke and I took the liberty to tour and document the Stotz family house in an effort to get a read on the early artistic development of Julia Stotz: artist, friend, assistant.

Beautiful life-like model of Julia.

Some of Julia's early work. The zebra was done with ink on corrugated cardboard and the bear was made with found materials including corduroy, silk ribbon, plastic and bone buttons.

Cat of unknown origin.

Gary and Luke talking shop. Despite Diamond's advanced age and advanced arthritis, she is contemplating standing up and attempting the long walk to "anywhere but here," as she put it. I guess the intricacies of battery charging technology is not her thing.

Luke soaking in the view from our sun-drenched rooftop quarters. Thank you Karen, Gary Julia and Sandra.

TOC Time Trial

I know what you are thinking...but let me assure you, when Jonathan Hero and I saw three full Mapei Kits cruising through the Sponsors Forum at the TOC Time Trial, we were in awe. We had to stop the oldest member of the group and photograph his bling. He obliged knowing we respected the message. Fuck Floyd chilling in the Ouch tent just steps away!.....We wanted to break off some proper old school Mapei-EPO-Driven-Absurdity. You can look at the 90's and get sad about the state/history/present of cycling or you can enjoy the theater of it all. Three Retro-Mapei dudes know what it is all about.

Solvang Detour

After leaving the Bonny Doon climb , Jonathan Hero and I headed down the coast and spent some time in Pacific Grove (post to come), and then made our way to Solvang where we heard about some good riding. Back in the day, US Postal and Discovery used this area as their winter training grounds. Moments after we pulled into camp a young couple asked us to help them with a snake problem. Jonathan Hero, being all things Nature, obliged and gently removed this gopher snake and released it in the grass a short walk away.


Solvang is a bit touristy but the area is full of vineyards, horse farms and strawberry fields. It is not uncommon to see Cowboys, Fieldworkers, and Lexus-Driving-Vintners in a 30 second span. Touring the town by foot, we spied this De Rosa in the back of a Pickup Truck and it seemed to capture the spirit of the area.


Day two we drove over to Lompoc to test Jonathan Hero's sore knee. I can't say the test went well but we did ride a 30 mile out and back to the coast. We ran into an old hobo pushing a golf bag full his worldly belongings. He walked all the way from Lompoc. Pissed off and cussing to himself as we approached, he asked for some food so Jonathan ended up giving him his Cliff Bar. On the way back we hit a ferocious wind on the climb. I am not sure if I could have rode any slower. I think at one point on the steepest pitch I managed to break 3 miles an hour.

Inquisinated

Luke and I were honored by the Cycling Inquisitioner himself. Well, Luke was only honored by his close proximity to yours truly. Sorry Luke. Apparently it was my pretty pink jersey that caught his attention. My Pink Jersey is of course an homage to the late great Andy Hampsten and his amazing feats at the Giro de Italia. Oh, he's not dead. Glad to hear it. The jersey also serves other functions such as pockets for Gu, gels, dried figs, old fashioned bananas, and my novelty gold medal. I don't know what it is about pink pockets but they seem to hold more.
On a related note, Luke once bagged Andy Hampsten's groceries back when he was still alive.
Interesting that he uses the term Douche bag. I recently had a long discussion with a friend about the term. Up until then I thought douche bag was a negative term. But there is a saying, new to me, that I will paraphrase: "The Douche Bags will inherit the world." But I prefer "The Douche who dies with the fullest bag wins."

Here is another picture for the Inquisitionator to use if he would like to do a longer, more in-depth piece on me. Thanks Cycling Inq. for your interest.

Fork Update

If the one bladed fork works for Cannondale maybe it will work for me and Merckx.

Tour of California Update Number 7

Levi, Michael Rogers and David Z leading the way to Santa Cruz.

Radio Shack looked good but a little blurry in the second group.

Even the animals showed up for the action.

Froth and Splendor

Via our friend Lucho at the always-entertaining and informative Cycling Inquisition comes this amazing photo of Bradley Wiggins giving a real magnificent frothjob:



Goodness, how does it flow from everyone's favorite mod.

Also, let me remind you of this classic photo of Linus Gerdemann's froth-covered grip and this Euskatel rider in a funny hat showering an appreciative crowd.

Dare I say we have a Ten Speed Hero froth-shooting contest after the next iteration of the Double Loop challenge?

Epic

Cadel Evans powers home to win the seventh stage of the Giro d'Italia
Photo: AP

tour of California Update Number 6

Nice Sweater

George's bike

Tom's Bike

Levi, Lance and Chris and friends