The Bicycle Thread (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

That's me... The family had other plans last night so I got a ride in at 286. I was really upset with the rain earlier in the day but it turned out to be hero dirt and significantly lower temps. Were you riding Umstead??
 
That's me... The family had other plans last night so I got a ride in at 286. I was really upset with the rain earlier in the day but it turned out to be hero dirt and significantly lower temps. Were you riding Umstead??
I was. I did not go in 286 (because I thought it was wet based on puddles on gravel road) so did gravel, crabtree mtb trails, more gravel, more gravel, etc. Hope to back again today with a group to do 286 at 5:30. This is same group I rode with back in 1998 and they are still going as a group. 21 years later. Crazy.
 
No talk of the Tour de France, nobody watch? Crazy year with many different stage winners, yesterday’s individual TT, huge crash by leader, literally ripping his shorts off, puncturing his leg. Today’s stage is crazy intense finishing on the HC climb up the Tourmalet.

Sad not having Paul Sherwin in the booth replaced by Bob Roll, someone I tested in my “bat cave” and offered training guidance on his transition in his relatively short career in the world of Mountain Bike racing. He was sponsored by Softride (frame built by Otis Guy in the above movie Klunkerz) on a ridiculous idea of mountain bike suspension. He did some rides with my Kestral guys, trying to learn how to ride that pogo-stick of a mountain bike.

70F870BB-F3AF-4ADB-87A4-EEC83422E137.jpeg


I’ve also had the pleasure of getting to know Phil Liggett while he coverd the Hawaiian Mountain Tour ‘95-96, he raced cyclocross with Frischy’s dad on the Ritchey Mountain Bike team.

I guess I’m bosting, being a pretentious d!ck that I know both commentators in this year’s TdF. Something I’ve followed intimately for a very long time, had personal relationships with many who have as well as those coaching/supporting the atheletes. Few really understand the physiological demand finishing, let alone being competitive, amazing athletes IMHO...:beer:
 
Last edited:
No talk of the Tour de France, nobody watch? Crazy year with many different stage winners, yesterday’s individual TT, huge crash by leader, literally ripping his shorts off, puncturing his leg. Today’s stage is crazy intense finishing on the HC climb up the Tourmalet.

I've been following along closely. It's been an awesome race so far this year! Will also be in Paris for the final stage. I've seen a few of the pro races domestically, and am stoked to be along the Champs this year for TDF!
 
No talk of the Tour de France, nobody watch? Crazy year with many different stage winners, yesterday’s individual TT, huge crash by leader, literally ripping his shorts off, puncturing his leg. Today’s stage is crazy intense finishing on the HC climb up the Tourmalet.

Sad not having Paul Sherwin in the booth replaced by Bob Roll, someone I tested in my “bat cave” and offered training guidance on his transition in his relatively short career in the world of Mountain Bike racing. He was sponsored by Softride (frame built by Otis Guy in the above movie Klunkerz) on a ridiculous idea of mountain bike suspension. He did some rides with my Kestral guys, trying to learn how to ride that pogo-stick of a mountain bike.

View attachment 2034709

I’ve also had the pleasure of getting to know Phil Liggett while he coverd the Hawaiian Mountain Tour ‘95-96, he raced cyclocross with Frischy’s dad on the Ritchey Mountain Bike team.

I guess I’m bosting, being a pretentious d!ck that I know both commentators in this year’s TdF. Something I’ve followed intimately for a very long time, had personal relationships with many who have as well as those coaching/supporting the atheletes. Few really understand the physiological demand finishing, let alone being competitive, amazing athletes IMHO...:beer:

Craziness yesterday. Feel really bad for Alaphilippe.
 
No talk of the Tour de France, nobody watch? Crazy year with many different stage winners, yesterday’s individual TT, huge crash by leader, literally ripping his shorts off, puncturing his leg. Today’s stage is crazy intense finishing on the HC climb up the Tourmalet.

Sad not having Paul Sherwin in the booth replaced by Bob Roll, someone I tested in my “bat cave” and offered training guidance on his transition in his relatively short career in the world of Mountain Bike racing. He was sponsored by Softride (frame built by Otis Guy in the above movie Klunkerz) on a ridiculous idea of mountain bike suspension. He did some rides with my Kestral guys, trying to learn how to ride that pogo-stick of a mountain bike.

View attachment 2034709

I’ve also had the pleasure of getting to know Phil Liggett while he coverd the Hawaiian Mountain Tour ‘95-96, he raced cyclocross with Frischy’s dad on the Ritchey Mountain Bike team.

I guess I’m bosting, being a pretentious d!ck that I know both commentators in this year’s TdF. Something I’ve followed intimately for a very long time, had personal relationships with many who have as well as those coaching/supporting the atheletes. Few really understand the physiological demand finishing, let alone being competitive, amazing athletes IMHO...:beer:

Havent really paid attention for a while. Mostly seen the mountain bikers trolling them. It's one of the things I do want to see live though.
 
Craziness yesterday. Feel really bad for Alaphilippe.

I think it was the right thing to do in the end. The other significant factor is the slow cutoff time, had they chosen a spot after the climb, on the descent, the non-climbers would have been eliminated easily. Also, having nobody know where that time was, it neutralized anyone/team’s impact. Lastly, knowing this type of athlete, how brave (stupid) they are, knowing the finish may be at some point near the bottom of the descent, would encourage need for medical intervention.

I’ve been party in discussions on MTB venues, as an advocate for my athletes when similar events made portions of a mountain bike race unsafe to race on, negotiating with the UCI officials, venue officials/land managers...bottom line, sh!t happens and somebody is going to get screwed. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend time in this region (Ritchey Designs Euro headquarters were in Lugano) spending a jet-lagged night in one of those storms. Love alpine summers where one moment it’s a wonderful 75-80 degrees, the next it’s snowing/hailing/raining and then it’s gone...
 
I think it was the right thing to do in the end. The other significant factor is the slow cutoff time, had they chosen a spot after the climb, on the descent, the non-climbers would have been eliminated easily. Also, having nobody know where that time was, it neutralized anyone/team’s impact. Lastly, knowing this type of athlete, how brave (stupid) they are, knowing the finish may be at some point near the bottom of the descent, would encourage need for medical intervention.

I’ve been party in discussions on MTB venues, as an advocate for my athletes when similar events made portions of a mountain bike race unsafe to race on, negotiating with the UCI officials, venue officials/land managers...bottom line, sh!t happens and somebody is going to get screwed. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend time in this region (Ritchey Designs Euro headquarters were in Lugano) spending a jet-lagged night in one of those storms. Love alpine summers where one moment it’s a wonderful 75-80 degrees, the next it’s snowing/hailing/raining and then it’s gone...

Oh I didn't disagree with what they HAD to do... Just felt bad for the dude. Although after watching today, unless he was able to make up enough on the descent to keep yellow yesterday (hypothetical), leading to inspired riding today - he was toast anyway. It was not a boring tour this year. I sure do miss an American presence in the race. Oh well.
 
Getting miles in at the coast.

198E2E97-6CF8-4D06-BF9F-E559BA00A42E.jpeg
 
This sucks.
@Pick
From a friend this morning:
My co-worker rode 286 this morning and came across a bunch of workers from RDU tearing out bridges and putting logs across the trail. They told him to walk his bike out and that next time they'd give him a ticket
 
giphy.gif



I wondered if this was imminent... I saw a bunch of orange flags on my last couple of rides and thought that the AA may be doing something on that side. So Sad... Best trails in the triangle. Not sure of the politics with the Umstead Coalition but it seemed there was some movement on getting 286 legalized but maybe that was wishful thinking on my part. Hopefully this blows over and we can ride again. This same thing was done 2 years ago and it settled after the summer was over.
 
This sucks.
@Pick
From a friend this morning:
My co-worker rode 286 this morning and came across a bunch of workers from RDU tearing out bridges and putting logs across the trail. They told him to walk his bike out and that next time they'd give him a ticket
That sucks. I was just out there Sunday wondering how much longer they'd let the trails stand. At least I got a final ride in before the end.
 
Give us a report, post ride. I've heard its pretty decent for the flat/sandy area its in. I don't get down that way much but would love to know if its a decent stop if I ever do...
 
Give us a report, post ride. I've heard its pretty decent for the flat/sandy area its in. I don't get down that way much but would love to know if its a decent stop if I ever do...
Will do. Getting ready to hit umstead here at 4:30 today, starting at Ridgewood Shopping center. ;<)
 
Maybe this should be in the spotted thread?? Saw a nice 100 with a bike on a rack on the back near RTP trails in Morrisville... YOHB?
 
Give us a report, post ride. I've heard its pretty decent for the flat/sandy area its in. I don't get down that way much but would love to know if its a decent stop if I ever do...
The trails are pretty basic. The challenge is staying up right from all the deep sand, The green trail is flat and hard packed. Very slippery from the sandy top and the pine straw. The brown, black and red trail actually had some tough sections and lots of elevation change for such short trails. They had some rocky sections that were pretty technical, similar to rocky road trail near Unstead however much shorter in length. The biggest thing was the deep sand everywhere especially fun coming off jumps and drops. The best way through for me was to keep the speed up and turn into the slide. If you are down that way, hit them. Not sure I would make a special trip as they are all really short.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom