Thank you Ms. Clare for this awesome gift!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
La Fleche Wallone
Last night, I couldn't find anything good on television. HBO was showing some Universal Soldier iteration that starred Goldberg. So I flipped the remote to EuroSports, and I was pleasantly surprised that they were showing a bike race. It was the 2012 edition of the La Fleche Wallone.
I'm not a big cycle racing fan but I watch whenever I catch one on television. Aside from the Schleck brothers, I'm not too familiar with the teams and riders in the Fleche Wallone. If I remember correctly, I tuned in with 45KM to go 'til the finish line. The riders were going uphill in the town of Huy (Belgium). I didn't know the cyclists who were in the breakaway pack nor those leading the peloton. But it's alright, bike races are entertaining. My favorite part is the sprint towards the finish line. Most of the time, the first one to cross the finish line isn't part of the break. Cyclists in teams have different roles - climbers, sprinters, domestiques, and all-rounders, to name a few. Usually, the sprinters are the ones that crosses finish line first for the teams. In last night's Fleche Wallone, the finish line was atop a climb. Actually, the last couple of kilometers (as seen below) of the race is uphill. The winner, Joaquim Rodriguez, is a climber and you'll see him pull away from the two leaders (Nordhaug and Hesjedal) at the 3:10 mark of the video.
P.S. I had no idea that there was already an electronic gear shifting system for bicycles until last night. Amazing!
I'm not a big cycle racing fan but I watch whenever I catch one on television. Aside from the Schleck brothers, I'm not too familiar with the teams and riders in the Fleche Wallone. If I remember correctly, I tuned in with 45KM to go 'til the finish line. The riders were going uphill in the town of Huy (Belgium). I didn't know the cyclists who were in the breakaway pack nor those leading the peloton. But it's alright, bike races are entertaining. My favorite part is the sprint towards the finish line. Most of the time, the first one to cross the finish line isn't part of the break. Cyclists in teams have different roles - climbers, sprinters, domestiques, and all-rounders, to name a few. Usually, the sprinters are the ones that crosses finish line first for the teams. In last night's Fleche Wallone, the finish line was atop a climb. Actually, the last couple of kilometers (as seen below) of the race is uphill. The winner, Joaquim Rodriguez, is a climber and you'll see him pull away from the two leaders (Nordhaug and Hesjedal) at the 3:10 mark of the video.
It was an awesome finish for Rodriguez. I'm a big fan of sprinters (Mark Cavendish, most especially). But this big win by Rodriguez shows the impressive role climbing specialists have in any cyclist team on tour.
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If you're interested in knowing why I'm a fan of the Manx Missile, below are a couple of features on him.
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If you're interested in knowing why I'm a fan of the Manx Missile, below are a couple of features on him.
P.S. I had no idea that there was already an electronic gear shifting system for bicycles until last night. Amazing!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Tour 700 Race for Charity
I saw this promo last week over Facebook.
There 2 distances - 40KM Fun Ride and 100KM Pro/Exec. The race is open for bike types other than roadies/racers, so mountain bikes and BMXs are welcome. I'll join the 40KM Fun Ride with my 16" folding bike. I have a racer but it would be difficult for me to commute to Clark with my road bike so I opted for the compact foldie instead.
The sheer number of 711 stores makes the registration very convenient
Now all I need to do is log more kilometers on the weeks leading to May 13. I'm also planning on changing my bike's brakes and to replace my grips with those from Ergon.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Learning How to Ride a Bike
It's common to find out that your friends don't know how to ride a bike. Biking is not just for kids so it's never too late to learn how to ride a bike. Below is a video of a practical way to teach an adult to ride a bicycle.
Learning how to bike in a road (or a field) with a slight slope really accelerated the process, that's how I learned when I was young. The method shown in the video above uses the idea of a balance bike to teach adults how to ride a bicycle. I've tested the method a few weeks before when I (re)taught Pau how to ride a bicycle.
Learning how to bike in a road (or a field) with a slight slope really accelerated the process, that's how I learned when I was young. The method shown in the video above uses the idea of a balance bike to teach adults how to ride a bicycle. I've tested the method a few weeks before when I (re)taught Pau how to ride a bicycle.
It worked!
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Hardware Finds
Last week, I lost the rubber tip of my kickstand. I got a tip from my friend Diane that I could replace the rubber tip of my kickstand it with a stool cap. So earlier today, I passed by a hardware store after a short trip to the supermarket. I inquired about rubber stool caps and the I was glad to know that the store had those that fit my bike.
It's neat that they come in packs of four!
It's a perfect fit
Aside from the rubber tube cap, I was also able to purchase this reflectorized vest that I can wear when biking along busy roads at night. It took me a while to find the right vest because I didn't want those that come with an actual vest (which usually comes in a net-like mesh). I just wanted the actual reflector strip. I'd actually just go for a sash made of reflecting material but this is the best (i.e. minimalist) I could find.
Comes with a free hanger. Score!
Friday, April 13, 2012
After a Long Work Day
I always look forward to the bike ride home.
p.s. I apologize for beating 5 red lights on my way home
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