Double Loop Diet

You guys can carbo load.......I'll be dishing out some macho salad.

Le Professeur

RIP to Laurent Fignon, one of the more respectable men to ever pedal a bike in anger.

May people always remember your successes and not the 8 Seconds. May your fans always remember your natural-born ability to douse crowds in champagne.

1960-2010.

Sunday September 5, 2010

Weather 75 Degrees. Wind WSW 8mph

Eddy Merckx/Pedal Down/Tenspeed Hero

Just in Case you have not watched it in awhile

Alan Jackson and Time RXR

I can appreciate Alan Jackson as a former ranch hand that used to do the two step at the Road Kill Cafe in Montana during my ranch hand days but the music choice did surprise me when I found this.

Jens, Andy and Stuey

Double Loop Racing Guide

Working on a Racing Guide with Maps etc. Should be done by this Sunday.

Thor Hushovd TT

Thor Hushovd on the bricks of Bordeaux in the 2010 Tour De France. As last year's green jersey winner Thor managed a stage win this year on the cobbles of the highly anticipated stage 3. He finished this time trial 124th. Wearing the national time trial jersey of Norway in 2004 and 2005, he is currently Norway's road champion and a TSH favorite.

Just Another Day in Paradise

First Day of Rehab Today. Stretching is No Fun When You Cannot Move. My PT is a Roadie and she said she would have me back on my bike this fall. Trainer in a week. She said No to riding on the Hoods just on the Tops.

Roubaix Moments

Never Gets Old

I think Luke took this picture

I found an undeveloped roll of film last Spring and this picture was on it. Not cycling related but heroic.

Hyperon to Giant: Updated

Hero Nation. As you know I snapped my front Hyperon Ultra in two during the infamous crash during Ben and I's preparation for the Double Loop. I am putting my rear Hyperon wheel up for sale tomorrow on Ebay and I should get about $500 for it which will pretty much pay for Bernie Eisel's Paris-Roubaix Giant TCR Advanced. I picked it up for $599 which includes shipping. I've never been much of a Giant fan but as you can see from the top photo Bernie is looking to set Big George Hincapie up for a lead-out on the Velodrome. Anyhow I am pretty excited. The bottom picture is Hincapie's machine. Bernies is a bit smaller. Going to build it up with some odds and ends that I have laying around. It will definately be a good conversation piece during our annual chili and whisky party.

limited edition tenspeed hero arm sling

Roads of Ireland

It was three weeks ago today that I found myself rally racing around the mountainous northwest of Ireland, sitting on the other side of the road, on the other side of the car in my Peugeot 308. Without a bike but with a camera I could only imagine the feel of the roads with a pack of Heroes in tow. The landscape of Ireland unfolds at each twist, incessantly a sublime balance of ethereal ocean air and human mud and stone, a vomit of colors and textures as expansive as at once homey. And one week before—to the day, I had been driving and hiking in the Pyrenees and in late afternoon witness to this year's stage 17 of the Tour De France. In France too I was left to my imagination, sans velo, looking forward to return trips—again with Heroes rolling through the the gorgeous countryside of the southern ranges and ultimately riding to the top of the Col Du Tourmalet. I'm going to admit though, getting straight to the point: had I one choice of destination for a ride today I'd choose Ireland.

Here

Here

And Here

New Logo

Thought of this when I heard rumor of Andy being recruited by Radio Shack. Rumor or not, you saw this poorly photoshopped logo here first.

A Song for the Climbers

They screwed the footage up and only included vehicles with engines on them. ZEKE loves KOM.

Gotta be the mountain man.

A Podium Full of Foam

This is a sight to behold. The boys on the podium are more interested in sharing their foam and froth with each other than dousing the podium girl. It's just marvelous to me whenever I see a gaggle of cyclists cavorting and frolicking upon a stage with champagne just spurting forth! This is a prime example of such a wondrous sight.

Todd's race music

Back Stage at the Tour

I'm home. At the risk of making a rather indulgent European holiday a total expatriation I've returned to Chicago with a very large appetite for riding my bike. Soon I'll have some photos to post, taken at the Tour De France. Until then, here are just a couple of harmless snaps of big George and the LOOK 695 as I wandered around the start of the time trial in Bordeaux. To those I haven't seen yet: I had a most perfect time in France and Ireland and seeing Lance in his last Tour De France. So gimme a ring for a ride, I'm into it. After 5 weeks off the bike I'll make you feel fast but I ain't no wheelsucker!

My interest in LOOK bikes is not unknown but I've gotta

say, of this year's pro tour lineup the new

695 looked pretty nice.

Hincapie warms up for his TT.

Jamie Sanchez " the band is getting back together"

Autumn Days

This is one of my favorite photographs of the 2009 Autumn Double Loop. Jen reminded me of it when she re-posted in on her blog. It looks like Kevin Hero, Zach Hero and Isaiah Hero leading everybody out. It looks like the "Gentlemen" side of the race which looks really peaceful and not painful at all.

I've been stuck in my studio recuperating for the last three days so I decided to find a new Time Fork for my bike. It has not been easy. John Hero cleaned up my bike and it looks like my head tube is fine. I decided to sell my surviving Hyperon as I do not want to wait around on ebay for one to appear. I might just stick with my old Campy/Open Pros for a while.

Jen Hero took a picture of my Tenspeed Hero embroidered arm sling and I was going to post it on this blog but since I was shirtless, the flash revealed the craziest and largest bruise I have ever seen. I thought I would spare you all. The color Yellow becomes no one.

Walter Hero told me about some of his crash/dazed moments of his racing career and a run in with his pet Schnauzer that got me laughing so all is not bad. Also I had a dream that I owned every cool bike ever made. The Hydrocodone/APAP/(NORCO) had me riding an Time RXR/BBOX Edition. Zach Hero was my Soigneur. Not bad for a little white pill.

Doctor tomorrow.

Walter W. Hero

Got an email with these pics from Walter W. Hero who will be joining the us for the Double Loop. These are his old school kicks from back in the Day. I suppose an old pair of Sidi's are an appropriate Talisman for Prairie Roubaix considering all the miles they must have covered. I can see the old toe clips right now.


My first Clips were Christophe's that I probably picked up with Adam K Hero who was my main cycling obsessed friend in high school. His late Pa got into amateur racing when we were in Junior High, so we watched him race and grooved on John Tesh's Tour de France back in the 80's. When I started Riding again in 2003 I was still riding Toe Clips. It did not last long.


I was really looking forward to riding with Walter because we have been talking about riding for the last year. Anyhow If you are wondering what I am going to be doing during the Double. Jen, John Hero and I are going to be out there in the Wagon with Musette bags and water. We know the perfect spots to get you guys some food and water. I'll also be shooting some Canon 5D video for our first official video. Its going to be fun!

Evidence and Comrades

This is what I looked like at the hospital telling them old cowboy stories,

I remember making this same face

Not sure what is wrong but I think those bones are supposed to be connected.

I remember thinking "there will be blood" as he crashed into me. Gonna call Daniel Day Lewis for the after school special on wearing helmets. He may want to play Ben Hero.

Hero Down: The Short Version

I have only been to the emergency room twice, both cycling related. Ben Hero and I have been training for the big day with a double work out. 38 miles in the morning with a 55 mile single loop in the evening. 20 miles into the evening ride a mountain biker lost control of his bike and plowed into me.

Gotta say disappointed but relieved I could get off the ground. Separated shoulder. Campagnolo Hyperon snapped in two spots. Cracked fork. Cracked head tube. Drops of the other guys blood on my bike, (he's OK).

Final tally. My girl is the best. Ben was as cool as you'd expect. I'll be the director sportif for double loop on September 5th. Gotta see an Orthopedic Surgeon later today. Looking for a 56cm sweet ass bike in the near future. Cant wait to start riding with the Heroes.

New Proposal

Ben Hero is flying in from a solo training mission in Portland on the 21st.

DZ on Tubulars

Double Loop News and Notes

Just in Case you needed some motivation for the Double Loop I posted a picture of the podium from the inaugural double loop won by Isaiah Jay. Also talked to Andreas from Burnham Racing and he said he may be down for the Double. Andreas finished 9th in the Tour of Elk Grove Masters 3/4 and finished 11th in the Cat 3 Race. If he can make it, I would expect him to be in the lead group.

So far it looks like we have Sean, Patrick, Isaiah, Jamie, Todd, Ben, Luke, Walter, Zach, Matt, Andreas, Mike, Possibly some Get a Grips, and a few others. 15 would be great.

HELP

Urgent: Need one Campagnolo Ultra Torque chainring bolt by 4pm today. This setup's not going to cut it.

Proposal

Rest Day in the Pyrénées.

Col Du Tourmalet in it's 100th year.

Get a Grip Cycles to the Rescue

I suppose when you are wrenching at a Pro Shop, patience and expertise go hand in hand if you want the job done right. Once again Saj from Get a Grip Cycles exercised both in fixing Ben's Pro Machine. At some point something terrible happened to the internal tubing for the rear brake cable and try as we might we could not get the cable to feed through. Frustration mounted as we envisioned staring at brake cable forever zip tied to the top tube. Anyhow, thanks go out to Saj for fixing the problem, and to Jeff and Adam and the rest of the shop for always making things go right. We owe you a beer when you are in our hood! Also Ride the Double Loop! I want to see one of your Serottas or Parlees on on the dirt!

Distances for the Double Loop

Just in Case You Want to Attack in the Final of the Double Loop, Here are the Distances.

Wheaton to Villa Park......................................16 Kilometers
Fermi Lab to Villa Park....................................30 Kilometers
Batavia Windmill to Villa Park..........................40 Kilometers
St. Charles to Villa Park...................................53 Kilometers

Double Loop Total Distance: 153 Kilometers

New Riders For The Double Loop

Double Loop/Prairie Roubaix has signed up new recruit Walter Hero from Champaign/Urbana to race on September 5. Walter cut his teeth in Texas road racing scene back in the day but sources say he still has the power. Also just got a note from Mike on the blog who wants in....so it sounds like we will have a good crew.

The route is a mix of road and limestone path that make up the Prairie Path and the Fox River Trail. This years course has a few alterations due to construction but it still starts in Villa Park and heads to Wheaton on local roads. We jump on the Prarie path after Wheaton and after 15 miles of mostly dirt we connect with a variety of local roads and parts of the Fox River trail. From Batavia we jump on the Batavia Spur by Fermi Lab back to Wheaton and do it all again. This years route will be a bit faster because we found a fast road with few stops taking us into last 5 miles to Wheaton.

Hope to do a reconnaissance ride in a couple weeks. Keep an eye on the blog for times.