Terry's list of banned words for 2009

2009 list of banished words and phrases:
-green
-carbon footprint or carbon offsetting
-bailout
-icon or iconic
- 24/7
-staycation
-desperate search
-not so much
-winner of five nominations
-it's that time of year again


please add to the list as necessary

Post Christmas...

So I woke up this morning and looked out the window to formulate a plan for the day. My last recollection of a weather forecast was for the warming trend to continue. Obviously the guy that made that forecast was full of @#$%^. There is 2" of fresh snow outside. I think it is just accumulating for Ukrainian Christmas in a couple of weeks, which is coincidentally when Peter will receive his gift from me unless he stops by and picks it up before then (hint).

Warnings

Queen Charlottes
10:01 AM PST Saturday 27 December 2008
Snowfall warning for
Queen Charlottes continued

Localized heavy flurries of 5 to 10 cm mainly over the northern sections of the Queen Charlottes later this afternoon and evening.

This is a warning that significant snowfall is expected or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements.



A frontal system over the south coast is producing local pockets of freezing rain. The freezing rain is occurring over the eastern sections of the Fraser Valley and through Howe Sound and over inland sections of Vancouver Island. The freezing rain will persist through early afternoon then will ease as temperatures rise above freezing.

Heavy flurries are expected to develop mostly across the northern sections of the Queen Charlotte Islands this afternoon and evening and localized snowfall accumulations of 5 to 10 cm are possible.

What to do when the weather is bad?

I have been thinking about this a lot and due to my recently developed aversion to riding in the rain I thought I would share a few web activities:
Cycling Revealed Trivia
This is a weekly 5 question quiz that is very challenging.
The most insightful cycling related fan-forum is the Podium Cafe. This group of aficionados are on top of everything in the pro peleton and crack most stories before the usual cycling media outlets like CyclingNews or VeloNews. They also host a year-long cycling pool called the Virtual Directeur Sportif (VDS)
I also enjoy reading couple of discussion forums:
Weight Weenies and Slowtwitch , and of course the mag-trainer.

Christmas Gift Ideas

I realize it is a bit late to be posting my Christmas gift list but it's worth a shot...
I have always wanted a pair of these .
And if you still have a few $ left over, one of these as well.
The desire for the second item is fueled by my recent interest in cycling aerodynamics and the marketing hype and misinformation out there on the inter-web. This review puts a few issues in perspective.
Hopefully, I will have a bit more time over the holiday season and can throw a few more posts up here and dig up some photos from the past year. And don't be afraid to post a comment so I know if anyone actually reads this stuff.

He is NUTS!

Christmas Boogie

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Oak Bay Criterium, Sept. 20, 2008

Cops for Cancer, Tour de North 2008

Hungry Hill on Hwy 16 between Houston and Smithers.
Day 4 of 2008 Tour de North now complete.
500km ridden,
362 to go.

In the Swing of Things

Morgan and Dawn try out their new Cycling Apparel

More Club Uniforms

Jeff Garrett, David Beggs and Peter Lake...Sunday ride is about to commence!

The New Club Jerseys are In

Brenda Hanchard and Sandra Beggs preparing for a training ride...

Another sprint photo

post-race BBQ

Road Race Results – Race at the Edge 2008

OPEN WOMEN

Name Elapsed Time Place
Sonja Efford 2:54:01 3
Crystal Thomas 2:43:59 1
Sue Brown 3:08:39 4
Robyn Boese 2:53:47 2
Sandra Beggs dnf
Kaileen McCullough 3:08:39 1st Junior

Road Race Results – Race at the Edge 2008

OPEN MEN
Name Elapsed Time Place
Kelvin Marks 2:33:19 + 00:01 3
David Beggs 2:33:18 00:00 1
Jeff Garrett 2:58:52 + 20:34 9
Ben Davidson 2:53:50 + 15:47 7
Terry Mitchell 2:33:18 00:00 2
Greg Linton 2:43:59 + 10:41 5
Larry McCullough 2:33:26 + 00:08 4
Greg Wiggins 2:51:33 + 18:15 8
Richard Jones 2:53:46 + 15:43 6

Road Race Finish Photo

The first of many photos from
the 2008 Race at the Edge of the World
- click on the photo to enlarge it
photographer: Calvin Ross

Race at the Edge of the World – Prologue Results

name	time	avg. km/h
David Beggs	7:14	42.3
Terry Mitchell	at 0:16	40.8
Larry McCullough	0:31	39.5
Kelvin Marks	0:33	39.3
Ben Davidson	0:49	38.0
Greg Linton	0:55	37.5
Crystal Thomas	1:13	36.2
Jeff Garret	1:36	34.6
Sue Brown	2:03	33.0
Sandra Beggs	2:04	32.9
Jay Wessell	2:23	31.8
Sonja Efford and Emma Ross	10:02	17.7
Greg Wiggins dnf due to mechanical

Bike repairs

A long time ago I worked in a bike shop for a few years. I learned how to assemble and repair bikes, and appreciate an 'employee discount'. Lots of people are intimidated by the daunting idea of repairing their own bikes but there is a plethora of do-it-yourself info on the 'net.
A good start is here . Another site with tons of info is from one of the big bicycle tool manufacturers .
Last but not least are your fellow club members. Many of them would be happy to help you by demonstrating and teaching you what you want to learn. Most repairs and adjustments require very basic tools and if you do require a special tool, someone around here has the one you need.
Sure we're not equipped like a pro-tour team but we keep our rides rolling even in the absence of a bike shop.

Thursday evening inland Gwaii TT Championships

Scott and I finally rode north to south on the 19.1km course. Last week Scott recorded a time of 34'29" and this week hammered to a PB of 30'44" and average speed of 37.29 km/h. My PB was 31'39", 36.2 km/h on June 5th, the last and only time I rode against the clock. Tonight I rode a time of 27'52", average speed of 41.12 km/h. Scott thought that north to south was faster and after tonight I definitely agree!

8 year Tlell Mtn. Biker

Tour de France Fantasy Pool interim results

The results have been tabulated up to and including day 6 of the TdF.
Here are the point totals so far:
David 93
Sandra 69
Brad 53
Jay 49
Kim 48
Terry 45
Abigail 29
Emma 28

Race at the Edge of the World – August 2nd, 2008

TIME TRIAL

· Registration for Road Race and Time Trial beginning at 5:30 pm TO 6:30 pm,

Balance Rock parking lot, (10 km east of QCC,) Friday August 1^st, 2008

· 1^st rider off at 7:00 pm, 1 minute intervals.

· Balance Rock parking lot to Miller Creek Bridge

· 5.1 km

ROAD RACE

· Registration 9:00 am to 10:30 am, Beggs residence, Saturday August 2^nd.

· Recreational ride starts at 10:00 am

· Road Race starts at 11:00 am

· Beggs residence to Masset Recreational Centre.

· 105 km

· Racers have access to the Recreational Centre to bathe or swim after the race.

If you want to find out more about what we're about and what is available on Haida Gwaii, check out the following links: the Queen Charlotte Islands Information Centre has loads of information about accommodations at (www.qcinfo.ca); the www.qcislands.net web site also has terrific links for accommodations and information about Haida Gwaii; the QCI Arts Council (www.qciarts.com) has info about events; and the local Chamber of Commerce (www.qcislands.net/chamber) is another great contact site. Hecate Inn in QCC is offering discounts for racers.

One event that happens close to the Bike Race is The Edge of the World Music Festival which takes place in Tlell on August 8^th, 9^th & 10^th. Tlell is a small community that stretches along Highway 16 which winds along the shores of Hecate Strait on the east coast of Graham Island. The islands are located about 60 miles from the coast of British Columbia, and about 600 miles north of Vancouver.

To get to Haida Gwaii you first have to get to the islands. Pacific Coastal Airlines flies direct to Masset from Vancouver. You can contact PCA at 1-800-663-2872 or book your flight at www.pacific-coastal.com . Masset is about a 1 ½ hour drive north of QCC.

Alternately, BC Ferries runs from Prince Rupert to Skidegate Landing. Prince Rupert is a 20 hour drive from Vancouver. You can also take the ferry from Port Hardy on the northern end of Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert. There is a 10 minute drive to QCC from Skidegate once you arrive there. Go to www.bcferries.bc.ca or 1-888-223-3779 for more information. The ferry trip from Prince Rupert takes about 6 hours. The ferries are often full, so booking in advance is highly recommended.

Air Canada Jazz also offers flights from Vancouver to Sandspit and you can find flight information at www.aircanada.com … it’s wise to be on the look out for on-line seat sales. If you come by air you can book the “limo” from the airport by calling Eagle Transit at 1-877-747-4461.

The Most Exciting Month of Cycling on TV

There are just a couple of days remaining until the start of the Tour de France on July 5 in Brest, France. There is daily tv coverage on OLN Canada starting at 5:30am PST on Saturday.
Here is the complete broadcast schedule.
Along with watching the Tour on TV, there are many TdF fantasy pools out there. I have been very successful in the free Canadian Cyclist Pool and encourage everyone to enter. Drop me a note with your username and I will track our results.

The benefits of bike commuting!

From a letter originally published inthe Queen Charlotte Observer a couple of years ago, written by Peter G.:
Hi. I'm sure you've seen me. I'm the guy in the yellow jacket bicycling between home at Sandspit airport
and work at South Moresby Air in the village of Queen Charlotte. My hats off to all of you eco- minded (or
just plain cheap like me) people cycling, rollerblading or walking, especially between QC and Skidegate. Just for fun I've kept stats on my bike commute during 2005 and I'd like to share them with you.
I bike the 20 km to work approximately twice to three times a week. It takes around 38 minutes from the airport to the ferry and 13 minutes from Skidegate landing to SMair at a moderate rate which burns 1,020 calories for the round trip. More ice cream please!
My truck is not fuel efficient. I'ts an older model Ford F-250 with a 400 cu in. engine. (sucking noise)
Its wonderful for transporting stuff and even better for providing incentive to bike instead. Biking in 2005 saved $1,156.54 in fuel plus maintenance costs. Environmentally the fuel that didn't burn saved 4,620 lbs of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere plus other gases.
The nearly antique 10-speed of mine was purchased for $450.00 in 1980 and went 4,505 km in 2005 or about Sandspit to mid- Labrador if the road was straight. Flats were a problem, around 10 I guess, mostly from sharp rocks (avoid!) or Alliford Bay road, which NEEDS WORK PLEASE! and can't be avoided.
I really never get wet or cold anymore once I learned how to dress for it and the slight back pain and knee problems I once had have disappeared. (for whatever reason) Hiking uphill is surprisingly easy now and the biking itself gets way easier after about 2 months or so. There you have it . I'm writing this on behalf of planet earth, I guess, and am hoping to entice a few more of you (who are able) to join the fun. Wishful thinking tells me that if we lessen the demand for fuel the prices may start to come down... good luck!

Club Clothing

I received these proofs today. David is preparing the revised price list and will send it out shortly with the request for orders. BTW David and Sandra (and Charlie) pulled into Winnipeg tonight on their x-country adventure.

Sunday June 15th ride

Leaving at 10 am from Peter's in QCC. RSVP to him directly if you plan to attend so they don't leave without you.

photo: by TM, 2007 Tour de North

Cycling BC Youth Team in Queen Charlotte Islands

By Dan Proulx, Cycling BC Youth Coach

The Queen Charlotte Recreation Commission recently hosted the 10th Cycling BC Youth Team event of the year. 95 riders took part in the program. An additional 30 students took part in classroom visits which emphasized the importance of active living. The clinic was coordinated through the efforts of Brenda Hanchard (Derailleurs in the Mist Cycling Club), Karen McMurray (Queen Charlotte Recreation Coordinator) and the generosity of the Hecate Inn's Robyn Boese.

Day 1 of the visit started at Tahayghen Elementary in Massett. This visit involved the standard Youth Team program along with two classroom visits focused on the topic of healthy living. This was a great opportunity to speak with students about the benefits that sport can bring to someone's life. In the cycling clinic, the students were very keen with one student excitedly telling me "this is the best day of my life". This school had never been exposed to cycling instruction at this level before. It was clear from their enthusiasm that there is a tremendous need for more programming like this in future.

In case you haven't been to Queen Charlotte, the first thing you notice is how many eagles patrol the sky above you. During the Masset visit I saw no less than 20 eagles. Now I know why several of the kids, when asked to look at the rear derailleur on their bicycles, had no idea what I was talking about. Up here, the kids call rear derailleurs "eagles" because the mechanism spread it's "wings" as it shifts.

The afternoon session on Day 1 tool place 45kms south of Massett. I spent the better part of lunch hour driving down to Port Clements where 40 students took part in a full afternoon of velodrome racing in their school yard. This clinic was notable because the teachers managed to include the entire school in the program. No one was left out of this one. It's important to mention that Port Clements, as with all Youth Team events, incorporated students with special needs into the mix. It was really cool to see the kids racing around the track and including students with different skills, talents and abilities. Cycling is definitely a sport with something to offer everyone. The smiles showed how important this level of inclusion was.

I travelled another 60km south to Queen Charlotte where I stayed at the Hecate Inn. When Robyn Boese heard that Cycling BC was coming to the islands, she offered to sponsor two nights worth of hotel. This is definitely a wonderful and friendly place to stay if any of you are thinking about exploring the pristine mountain biking or newly paved blacktop (over 140km worth between Charlotte and Masset) in the Queen Charlotte's.

Day 2 of the Youth Team clinics started at Sk'Aagdaa Naay Elementary where another 40 kids took part in a 3 hour grass velodrome racing clinic. The local RCMP detachment heard that Cycling BC was coming to town so they moved their cycling program ahead to match with our initiative. The RCMP provided the students with new helmets, locks and a stable of bicycles for the kids without bikes to ride. The best part was that each student got to keep the gear and the bike. To say that this community and the school support cycling would be a huge understatement. Look for some talented kids to come out of this school in the near future.



The program at Sk'Aagdaa Naay Elementary included the use of two large grass tracks at the same time. The group was energetic and eager to ride fast. Normally one track would be sufficient, but the energy level in this group demanded that everyone keep moving and riding hard. The class finished at noon and they kid's energy level only started to drop at 10 minutes to go. It was a fun and extremely busy clinic.

In the afternoon I visited the Living and Learning School in Charlotte. This was a smaller clinic than the others, but no less enthusiastic. Again, the kids were amazed with all the different skills, games and races that you could learn in a school field. As always, the game of "one-foot" was the most popular.

The clinic concluded with a sharing circle lead by one of the school's teachers where each student was asked to mention something that got them down ("a root") and something that made them soar ("an eagle"). The majority of kids mentioned some mechanical issue with their bikes as being their root. Almost all of them said the entire visit was their eagle.

The day ended with a two hour evening clinic for the local Cycling BC club – Derailleurs in the Mist. The clinic was attended by 10 of their adult members. While offering this clinic, based on road skills and group riding, I stressed the importance of creating an even bigger cycling community in the Charlotte's. We talked about the club taking over the school visit program and offering kids the chance to race their bikes in local events each year. Grass Velodrome racing would be a perfect fit for almost any club as the event gets lots of kids involved in racing and can be run with a minimal number (2 to 3) volunteers. It also offers all kids, regardless of ability level, a chance to race and be successful. I am confident that this club will extend their efforts to connect more kids from the region with the sport of bicycle racing in the future.

The next stop for the Cycling BC Youth Team will be the BC Summer Games in Kelowna (July 24-27th). Since January 2008, 465 riders have been taught racing and bike handling skills through the Youth Team Program. This initiative will grow the talent pool for competitive cycling in British Columbia by exposing as many kids as possible to racing in a fun and friendly environment. If you would like a Youth Team event in your community, please email Dan Proulx at youthcoach@cyclingbc.net

and more colours for the jerseys

Pantone colours:
Dark Blue - 282
Blue - Reflex Blue
Light Blue - 284
Gold - 116
Red - 186

Speak now or forever hold your cheeky comments until the next order.

Thursday evening inland Gwaii TT Championships

Scott and I rode the 19.1 km Tlell to Port Clements TT course tonite. I recorded a time of 31'39" to set a new course record and Scott's time was 35'29". My average speed was 36.2 km/h and Scott's average speed was 32.3 km/h. There wasn't any wind so I am sure that with a tailwind I can break 30'. It will also be interesting to see if aero enhancements can lower the times. Scott was on his P3 and rode most of the way in his aero bars. I was on a regular road frame without aero bars. The course is flat except for the start and finish so it should be possible to ride the middle 15km entirely in the aero bars and that should be worth 1-2 minutes of time savings.
2006 TdF prologue, Team Discovery bike

More Jersey colours

Oh! that evil wind.

Scott and I rolled up to Port Clements after a day of sun at the Tlell soccer fields. We left my house around 5:15pm and enjoyed a brisk tempo ride at 40km/h+. I felt great until I headed back to Tlell and had trouble keeping my speed over 30km/h. I measured the distance from the flashing light in Port Clements to the Pesuta roundabout and it is 19.1 km. My time was 34'21" and I killed myself doing it. Scott later informed me that his best time was 33'25" so that makes him the world record holder for that course. He also holds the world record for the out and back at 1hr 13'27".

Jersey colours???

Giro Pool Final Standings

Club Clothing

Tour de Jackpine - June 8th

It's a Cake Walk

Ride on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Today I baked, Tomorrow I ride.............

Ad in Next Observer

Look for Derailleurs in the Mist Cycling Club members who will soon be riding around wearing their new club jerseys. Bright and colourful, the new club apparel will help make club riders even more visible on the road. There is usually a club ride on Sunday mornings with other casual rides throughout the week. If you are interested in coming out and having a fun ride with the club check out the club blog for times at http://ditmcyclingclub.blogspot.com/
Or call 559-8831, 559-9040, or 557-4692 for more information. Thanks to Toby Sanmiya for the great logo.

The club would like to offer a sincere thank you to the local businesses that offered their support by generously sponsoring them this year.

Thank you to:

Aero Trading Company, Port Edward
City Centre Stores, Queen Charlotte
Howlers Bistro, Queen Charlotte
Isabel Creek Store, Queen Charlotte
Jags Beanstalk, Skidegate
Key West Insurance, Queen Charlotte
Northern Savings Credit Union, Queen Charlotte

Cycling is Great for your Health!

Cycling great for health and the legs

Jill Barker
Canwest News Service
CREDIT: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
A bicyclist commutes along Market Street in San Francisco, California.
Remember when you and your bike were inseparable? It once was your primary form of transportation, but all that changed when you got your driver's licence and the car usurped your bike as the preferred way to get around town.
Too bad. A bike has a lot to offer. Just in case you've forgotten the joy of pedalling, here are some reasons to get back on your bike.
- You'll get in great shape
Cycling provides the exercise needed to decrease your risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer, lower blood pressure and burn calories. At a modest 15 miles an hour, a 150-pound cyclist burns about 31 calories per mile. So if you spend an hour on your bike three times a week you'll burn almost 1,400 unwanted calories (heavier cyclists burn more). Not bad results for touring around your neighbourhood at a modest clip a few hours a week.
- You'll get great gams
The butt, hamstrings and quadriceps gain muscular strength and endurance every time you hit the flats, climb hills and power through your weekly rides. After a few weeks of regular riding your legs will have more stamina.
Keep it up and you'll see muscle where there used to be flab. Before you know it, you'll be wearing your cycling shorts with pride, showing off legs that look nothing like those you kept hidden just a couple of months ago.
- You'll see more of your neighbourhood
A long leisurely Sunday ride can take you through streets you never thought of travelling by car. As you wind your way around town you'll see stuff you don't notice in a car. Admire your neighbours' gardens, see what houses are for sale and get to know the sights and sounds of your neighbourhood. Make every ride different and don't be afraid to explore new neighbourhoods and towns every weekend.
- You'll see more of the world
Take your bike farther a field and explore the world. Bicycle touring is gaining popularity with guided trips available through southern France, Italy's wine country, a castle-tour of the UK and the rugged beauty of Canada's maritime provinces. Anywhere there are good roads and great scenery, chances are there's a tour for the taking. Choose a route that best suits your riding preference - rustic or first class, hilly or flat, full or half days in the saddle. Once you try it, you'll realize there's no better way to see the world.
- It's family friendly
Lead by example and get everyone in the family on a bike. Pedal to soccer practice, school or out and about one or two nights a week. Cycling as a family not only keeps everyone fit, it creates an exercise habit that can last a lifetime.
- It's easier on the body than running
Cycling has all the fitness benefits of running without the impact stress of pounding the pavement. That means novice exercisers can spend more time on a bike than they can running and still feel okay the next day. So if it's fitness and calorie burning that you're after, cycling makes it easy to achieve your goals.
- It's eco-friendly
Choosing two wheels instead of four reduces the use of fossil fuels and releases less smog into the air. A British study titled "Bikes not Fumes. The Emission and Health Benefits of a Modal Shift from Motor Vehicles to Cycling'' estimates that replacing 20 per cent of car trips with bicycle trips could eliminate more than six per cent of vehicle-produced carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons and four per cent of nitrous oxide. Who knew that such a small shift in lifestyle could have such a significant environmental impact?
- You can get outside
Revel in the sunshine, gentle breezes and fabulous weather that is yours to enjoy during cycling season. Not to mention that when you're on your bike, you're nowhere near the TV, fridge, e-mail or cellphone. And on less than stellar days, getting out for a bit of fresh air and exercise can turn your day from dreary to delightful.
- It's cheap
You can't beat the savings of taking your bike instead of the car. Bikes don't cost $1.30 (and counting) a litre to run, or require insurance and an annual licensing fee. And the cost of a tune-up and repairs is a fraction of what it costs to maintain your car. Cyclists don't need to feed parking metres or pay for a spot in a lot. Bottom line; cyclists have more money in their pocket than motorists.
- You can get off the beaten path
Cyclists don't need to stick to the streets. Off-road cycling gets you close to nature and away from cars, traffic lights and smog. You can get your thrills by speeding downhill or winding through a trail that takes you places you'd never go on foot. There's a whole new world to see on a bike, not all of which needs to be viewed from the road.

Giro Stage 11and the Loot arrived

A break got away today but had little effect on the GC or our pool. The Accountant moved up to 3rd in the GC and Kloden is now 5th, which is a net gain of 4 points for me over Team OZ. The big surprise of the day was when the Purolator man showed up at 6:30pm with a large box from Specialized Canada containing all the loot I won by finishing 2nd in the Spring Classics Cycling Pool. It was just like Christmas morning for me! I'll post the links for the next contest when it starts and I hope that everyone enters because the prizes are great.

The real Giro started today

Here are the updated pool standings after the stage 10 ITT. Brusegin repeated his TT win of last year but the real surprise was the Accountant in 2nd place followed by the expected podium placing of Kloden. At the half way point things are starting to heat up. Team OZ should start reclaiming points and by the end I am still predicting a very close finish.

Harbour Days Triathlon

I know this is a terrible photo but according to the photographer we were all going so fast that after this shot was taken, we were around the corner onto the causeway and out of view.
Plenty of participation from the club:
Robin, Sandra, Andrea and Terry all took part and some of us won draw prizes to offset the $25 entry fee.
I rode Scott's aluminum P3 which is a bit small for me but makes me very aero. I also had David's TT helmet, and shoe covers. For the 22.6km time trial these modifications over a standard road race set-up netted me a theoretical savings of 3 minutes and 22 seconds. There was a stiff headwind on the return leg of the out and back course and I rode 95%+ of the course in the aero bars. My average speed was around 37 km/h and I'm sure a better warm-up would have knocked off a bit more time. I noticed very little wind noise from the aero helmet and actually suffered a bit of an ice cream headache from the great ventilation.
I'll add some more photos when I receive them.

Giro Pool update

A bit of bad luck struck David's team over the last few days, Nuyens crashed out with a broken collarbone yesterday and today David Miller broke his chain with under 1 km to go and threw away his bike and a shot at the stage win.

Massett Harbour Days Triathlon

Massett Harbour Days Triathlon

Sunday May 18th

Registration is currently taking place through the QCI Rec. office

Call us for a registration form at 1-888-557-4418.

Race begins 10am.

Teams are welcome to take part in the race.

Giro Pool

David and I have a bet on the Giro. It is roughly based on a hockey pool format where we alternately chose 9 riders. We did this for the Tour of California and I snuck out a narrow victory on the last day. Stage and GC placings are worth 10,7,5,3,1 each day and the final GC is worth 2x. The GC leader's name is highlighted in pink. Here's what it looks like after stage 2:

Live Giro D'Italia on TV

After 3 calls to Expressvu this afternoon, David was finally able to subscribe to RAI Int'l, the Italian channel and will now enjoy televised cycling action from the Giro D'Italia for just $2.50.
It doesn't matter that the play by play is in Italian because that just makes it more exciting and for the very industrious you can simulcast an English language Eurosport audio feed over the internet.

Speciale 91 Giro d'Italia

701 RAII Fri 5/9 7:45 PM

91 Giro d'Italia

TTT 701 RAII Sat 5/10 9:15 AM

91 Giro d'Italia, Cefalu'-Agrigento 2 Tappa

701 RAII Sun 5/11 9:15 AM

91 Giro d' Italia, Catania - Milazzo 3 Tappa

701 RAII Mon 5/12 6:45 AM

91 Giro d'Italia, Pizzo Calabro -Catanzaro 4 Tappa

701 RAII Tue 5/13 6:45 AM

91 Giro d'Italia Belvedere Marittimo - Contursi Terme

701 RAII Wed 5/14 6:45 AM

91 Giro d'Italia Potenza - Peschici 6 Tappa

701 RAII Thu 5/15 6:45 AM

91 Giro d'Italia Vasto - Pescocostanzo

701 RAII Fri 5/16 6:45 AM

91 Giro d'Italia, Rivisondoli - Tivoli 8 Tappa

701 RAII Sat 5/17 9:15 AM

sydney crash - road rage

Sad news from Oz. I saw this on CyclingNews.com a few days ago

Bike fit

Bike fit is a topic that is always on my mind. I caught this article over at CyclingNews and thought it was worth sharing.

check this out

I heard about this online photo animation service called Animoto and I tried it out and this is what it did with a few photos and some music: Terry's test video
You really have to check it out, let me know what you think.

gold for canada at Pan-Ams

from Canadian Cyclist:
May 6/08 10:00 pm EDT - Tuft Wins Second Medal at Pan Ams - Report

---

Tuft Wins Second Medal at Pan Ams - Report
Courtesy Dan Proulx

Svein Tuft won a second gold medal at the Pan American Cycling Championships in Montevideo, Uruguay today. Tuft took the gold medal in the Men's Points Race ahead of Daniel Halloway of the United States and Antonio Cabrera of Chile (Note: full results posted earlier). Zach Bell was fourth and was an integral part of Svein's win tonight.



Canada had two strong contenders in the race and two shots at winning. The field was primarily concerned with Zach Bell. Bell launched several attacks in the early part of the race - winning four of the first eight sprints. Zach made several attempts to get away and lap the field but each move was brought back. Bell was a marked rider. Everyone was extra vigilant when he hit the front of the race.

At the midway point of the race, Zach and Svein were part of an eight man break that took a full lap on the field (worth an automatic 20 points). The move included both Cabrera and Halloway. The race was down to eight serious riders in contention for a medal.

Midway through the race, Svein chased down a move that was attempting to take a second lap on the field. Cabrera and Halloway were in it. The group eventually lapped the field for a second time. This move put Svein into the lead by just one point over Cabrera and Halloway.

Three quarters of the race in, a dangerous move got off the front again. It contained Halloway and three lower ranked riders. The group quickly gained a half lap on the main field - threatening to take a full lap and gain a further 20 points. If the move was successful it would have put Tuft into second place with almost no chance to come back.

Zach, Svein and Cabrera chased hard at the front of the main field without assistance from any other riders. Eventually they were able to bring back Halloway's breakaway. From the sidelines, it was an agonizingly long chase. Tuft remarked, "We knew we could bring them back in. We weren't going to let them take the lap."

The breakaway with Halloway was captured with 6 laps to go in the race. Svein was still leading the race by just one point over Halloway at this point. The final sprint was critical to preserving the win for Tuft. Down the back-straight it was Halloway who made the first acceleration - riding for Gold. Tuft stayed calm and powered over top of the sprinters lane drawing even with Halloway's shoulder midway through turn four. Svein's momentum carried him through to get second in the final sprint. Halloway finished 5th and did not score points. Gold to Tuft - his second win of the 2008 Pan American Championships!!!

The victory for Tuft was a team effort. Riding breathless around the apron, Bell's only concern was that Svein had won. Bell rode hard in support of the Gold Medal. It was great to see these two racing so hard out there.

Tomorrow the competition resumes at 2pm with the Madison. The final day of competition will be Thursday where Zach Bell will represent Canada in the Omnium competition.

Competition at the Pan American's will conclude this weekend with the time trial and road race. The courses will be challenging. The coast line is windy and the competition will fierce. Team Canada is up for the challenge.