Giro d'Italia Stage 19

Di Luca tries valiantly to drop Menchov with countless surges but manages only to gain 5 seconds after the time bonuses are factored in. Menchov leads Di Luca by 18 seconds with 2 stages remaining, the final one a 15.5 km time trial in and around Roma. Should be an exciting finish with rain in the forecast for Sunday.

On another note...

I went for a ride on Saturday and missed my usual Sunday ride. But I have an excellent excuse because I went fishing on Sunday. It was an excellent day and all three of us caught 2 Spring salmon each!
Enjoy the view of Rennell Sound on the west side of the Queen Charlotte Islands

Tandem Stoker Tired of Staring at Husband's Ass

Veteran tandem enthusiast, Heather Coburn, is growing increasingly frustrated with her role as the perpetual stoker on the tandem she shares with her husband, Gene.

"I was all for it when he sold me on the idea a few years back, but now I think I got the butt end of the deal—literally," says Coburn. "It’s okay for shorter distances, but after about hour three of a century ride, I’m sick of it. And I’ll never ride with Gene again after we’ve had Thai food the night before. I might as well be drafting a porta-potty pumper truck."

Coburn describes how she unwittingly found herself relegated to the role of stoker.

"I was intrigued by the novelty of the tandem at first. But the novelty soon wore off. Gene’s as happy as can be out in front. He’s up there—nose in the wind, big goofy grin as he pilots us—totally oblivious to the never-changing view that is my hell as the perpetual stoker."

Besides the unchanging view of her husband’s backside, there is other unpleasantness.

"Going up hill is the worst," explains Coburn. "Only the most skilled tandem duo can get out of the saddle together. We’re not quite there, so when he gets out of the saddle, his Black Bottoms practically chafe my nose. It’s disgusting."

Don’t get me wrong, he’s got a nice butt—especially from all of the cycling we do. But like anything else, too much of a good thing can be unhealthy. Even after 22 years of marriage, there’s still areas of our lives where it’s possible to share too much information."

Coburn feels she was suckered into the lure of a tandem and wants to warn others.

"Couples see us and they think ‘Oh, how cute! That looks like fun! We should get a tandem.’ Don’t fall for it. The tandem industry doesn’t want you to know that the stoker’s role is one of indentured servitude. It’s a dirty secret."

Coburn adds, "If you ever see a smiling stoker, they’re in on the ruse. They’ve been duped, so they want others to be fooled too so they’re not alone. Misery loves company."

Coburn is on an inspired quest to expose the tandem stoker’s reality.

"Until now, no-one’s been brave enough to come forward with the ugly truth out of fear of reprisal from the tandem Mafia. I want my story—and that of other stokers—to be told in a Lifetime original movie. Or at least in a segment on Maury. I’m also thinking of starting a stoker support group.

"Unless you’re a proctologist, that’s way too long to spend with your face four inches from someone’s ass."

-Special thanks to the Hophead Velo Blog for this great post about the truth of tandems.

A Day at the Volta Cataluyna (in 90 sec)

Volta Cataluyna stage 2 from Sheri Jay on Vimeo.

Giro Stage 12 TT - climbing vs. descending

By Robert Chung as posted to news:rec.bicycles.racing and linked from http://anonymous.coward.free.fr/rbr/

Outside Magazine

Hi Everyone...got a call from Greg Thomas today. He's from Montana and was up here recently. Said he loved it here and he is writing a (very short...500 words) article about Haida Gwaii in Outside Magazine for the August issue. He was asking about DITM CC ... hoping he mentions the race. Wouldn't that be fun? Anyway...keep your eyes peeled.

Best, Sand

Thanks to Alex Stieda for allowing me to post this movie trailer.
Check out his website for information on cycling vacations and training camps.

Cycling Sunday

Two of us managed to get out for a ride today... and yesterday.
We took photos to prove it actually happened.
And in full club kit.

New Columbia High-Road TT Bike

SCOTT Plasma TT launch-the process from Ride on Scott on Vimeo.

Giro d'Italia live and free on the internet

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