Seems like old times.

Popped a spoke on the way to work.

I almost miss that gentle "ping," but not quite.

UCI World BMX Championships

What a very long week! My bid to win the title for my class came to an end in the semi-finals on Sunday afternoon. Our class had 55 of the worlds best riders and I guess I should take some comfort in making it to the final 16.

My motos were awesome, with me riding right behind the current world champion. I was feeling awesome and felt that things were heading in the right direction and when it came time for my semi-final, I just blew my gate. I beat myself I guess. I can't tell you how much it hurt to come up short, especially with all the support I received.

I hope to have some video of the races soon and will post them.

Victoria, BC is b e a u t i f u l!!!! Bike lanes and bike shops everywhere!!! The obesity rate up there is pretty much opposite of what ours is here in the USA. The weather...perfect! Jackets at night, shorts for the day. Oh..and if you ever wondered where all the friendly customer service went....it's up in Canada!

I'll post more later...

2x4

NAC posting on attitudes toward bicycling.

New Albany could use a "positive spirit" enlargement pill when it comes to attitudes toward bicycling, but don't hold your breath.

NBL E. Moline National

Last weekend, I used the NBL's stop in E. Moline, IL. to warm-up for the Worlds. The moto count was very low for the race. Usually it's around 120ish and this weekend it was 75 for the first day and 68 for day two...bummer.

Day 1 was interesting, especially with a really bad cross wind that blew your bike from underneath you! I'm luck to have not eaten crap, because there were several times where I felt I was about to crash. I was able to score the win in the main, but dropped a perfect (winning all motos and main) due to hitting a roller and coming to a stopped and my buddy passing me. It's all good, I dropped one point, no biggie really...

Day 2 was picture perfect racing weather! Cool start, clear skies and most of NO WIND! Scored a perfect on day 2. That's all I can really say about the weekend.

I'm happy with my conditioning going into the Worlds and I feel that I've done my part as for training and being prepared physically, now it's just the game of not letting my head take me out of the it! I had a bought of doubt yesterday....the nerves just kicked in and it's a usually thing here....

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Tommy

A Proposed Response to George Cronin's Death on the Second St. Bridge

Go to the "Advocacy" link at www.bikedepot.org/cbdcourier/ and then hit the tab for "A Cyclist's Death" at the top of the page.

It provides a detailed review of facts and the law related to George "Chips" Cronin getting hit and killed by a van while crossing the Second St. Bridge.  

It's worth a read by anyone disturbed by the fact no motorist who precipitates an "accident" has been charged in a pedestrian or cyclist death in Metro Louisville in the last couple years.   

If you support the proposed plan of action, you can email your support.

Beat Summer Heat with "8 o'clockers" -- 33.3 miles

Summer heat can sap your desire for a long ride or a workout.  So, I find myself tending towards "8 o'clockers", either early in the morning or later in the evening, to enjoy myself in these peak summer months.  Getting out early this past weekend meant temperatures in the 60's up here in western Floyd County and good summer riding.

Saturday, going solo, I combined two of my favorite loops from my home two miles west of Floyd Central H.S. for a nice 33.3 mile ride.

SOUTH SKYLINE LOOP

I first headed east on Old Vincennes Road up to the Luther Road stop sign, hung a left to go east and continued to cross U.S. 150 and on down to Paoli Pike were a right takes you to the light at Scottsville Road.  The Hobknobb Roasting company is a good stop there, but I was only 5 miles out and looked forward to a fresh cup when I was circling back about 10 miles later.

Turning left, go up to the next stop sign, St. Mary Road, and go right for a delicious, curvy roll along the base of Spickert and Moser Knobs.  It's shaded in the mornings and traffic is usually light unless its rush hour or school is just starting or getting out.  St. Mary's of the Knobs church is a nice place to stop, stretch and drink some water if you, or the less experienced riders with you need a short break.  The cemetery also has headstones from many older area families, some dating back to the early 19th century.

At the church, take a right to get on Campion Road and continue a meandering ride along the creek bed until you come to the marked intersection where Atkins Road goes north, Moser Knob Road, to your right, heads northeast straight up hill and So. Skyline Drive, also to your right, curves back right and southward.  

Atkins Road is the easiest way to get up on top of the knobs and, after a right turn at Von Allman a couple miles later,  makes for a sweet ride along the ridge crest on North Skyline back to Moser Knob where you can hapilly come down the hill back to Campion.  If you want a few more miles, take it;  it's great. 

But today, I wanted to do a figure eight that included some of the western part of the county and one of the sweetest creekside rides out here, Hamby Road.  So, I turned up South Skyline, which starts level but in about a third of a mile turns into a good uphill climb to get your heart and lungs pumping.  Once on top, it's an easy ride and, once past some extravagant subdivisions and antenna farms, turns lovely as you follow curving rollers through a mostly wooded ridge crest back to Spickert Knob Road (it comes up the knob on your left) and on a gentle grade downhill back to St. Mary.  At Scottsville Road, watch for traffic as you turn left and book it back to Paoli Pike.  Now might be a good time for a coffee and bagel or morning muffin.  They roast locally, so the brew will be good.

From here, you backtrack west on Paoli Pike, just after the Post Office turn left on E. Luther Road and follow it back uphill to U.S. 150 and onward to Old Vincennes where you take a right and can enjoy a gleefully quick downhill back to Floyd Central H.S.  If you start here, you've done a good 15 miles or so, with lots of aerobic sections, hill climbs and shady country road down hills to put you in a good mood.

GREENVILLE/HAMBY ROAD LOOP

 If you want a bit more, about 17 miles more, keep heading due west on Old Vincennes.  Go straight through the stop sign in half a mile at Edwardsville-Galena Rd., and in about 150 yards go straight again (despite the yellow line curving left to John Pectol Rd.) to stay on Old Vincennes.  There's a testy little rise .4 miles ahead, but once up and over, it's smooth sailing.

After Featheringill, you pass a horse farm and ride over some rollers into a gentle downhill into the Indian Creek basin.  At early morning or evening dusk you might see a Great Blue Heron or deer along the creek before climbing out and up for a mile to Buttontown Road.  On your left is the old Greenville cemetery worth a check if you need to stretch after climb.

Turn right at Buttontown and you're heading due north towards Greenville.  Just after passing the park and before getting to U.S. 150, take a left on an unmarked street along a chain link fence.  It will bring you through the backside of Greenville where in less than a mile, you will come to Georgetown-Greenville Road.   On your left will be the neat-as-a-pin, beautiful, white United Methodist Church, which is celebrating its 108th anniversary this year.  If you need some drinks or a sandwich, the Greenville Mini-Mart is one block to your left and worthy of your patronage.

Turning left, you enjoy a gradual downhill ride southward out of town.  After passing some pretty cattle farms, the road turns right and quickly climbs up a rise, but it's not too bad.  Keep going and enjoy the better direction of the rollers that will take you down to Richland Creek, which you generally follow for a few more miles before the road ends at a T where you'll turn left. This is about 10 miles out from the high school.

As you continue along Georgetown-Greenville a couple more miles, you'll see the classic suburban fringe:  new single family homes along the county road like punctuating active farm fields of handsome corn and soy beans as you get back into the Indian Creek watershed.  After crossing the creek, keep a look out for Cooks Mill Road on your left, it appears quickly.  Take it and in only a third of a mile take another left onto Hamby Road and gear down to climb your last hill.  It's short and the last one of the day other than climbing back up to the Floyd Central

parking lot.

You'll quickly leave the soybean covered hilltop and start down.  BE CAREFUL, there is a wicked switchback to the right which you have to take s-l-o-w-l-y.  Once around it, let it go and enjoy one of the sweetest stretches in the county.  You follow the cooler air of wooded creek bed, see more farming, break out into the sun as you cross the creek bottom and re-enter the woods as the road ends in about 1.5 miles at Buttontown Road to your left and John Pectol to the right.  Turn right, cross the one-lane, wood plank bridge, and continue along similar shaded road (without the creek) about three  more miles back to Old Vincennes Road where you curve to the right and go .8 miles back to the high school.  

While the elevation changes sum up the same, this loop to me seems easier to do counterclockwise.  Maybe it's where they occur in the route, but the climb up from Indian Creek over the hill into Richland Creek drainage and the climbs up rollers back into Greenville seem more challenging.  So, on those days you need more pepper in your ride, take the loop clockwise.

Now's a good time for us all to be posting what we think are "best rides".

  

Wellsprung

It should be noted that I greeted the prospect of riding to Louisville with Ed and Terry with apprehension. I have confessed myriad times that I enjoy riding with my wife or alone, the whispers of alpha-competition do little but piss me off. That said we rode 28 miles (Ed and Terry, no doubt, more) and enjoyed lunch and rehydration at Cumberland. The highlight had to be encountering Mayor Jerry cycling himself in Butchertown and his admonition that we should all wear helmats. It would take Condi on rollerblades to trump that episode of hilarity. As I conifed to the guys, N and I usually cruise at 10-11 mph whereas these lads aim for 15 which left me pleasingly winded.

Mr G -- thanbks for the comment and, no, I hadn't checked the site recently and I have ammended my profile to include email. Cheers.

26.2 miles

10.3 miles

28.8 miles

Good times in Downtown Naaalbany..dog...

Went out for a leisurely ride around the city after the rain. Stepping out onto the porch, I was greeted by a wonderful punch to the lungs by the humidity. I don't think I've ever encountered humidity like last night.

So I hear thunder off in the distance, but felt that I still had a good 1/2 hour to just cruise down spring to the heart of downtown, then back up Market. Lot's of good jumps along the way. Overall it was a good little ride, but here's an observation I've made on my tours in Naaalbany.

Whether I invite it or not, it seems that I'm always the target of some type of commentary by locals. Or, I at least get the "brush-off" by a motorist, no matter how much room the car/truck has in the lane, it seems that I'm nearly rode into the gutter.

I don't know if it's the site of seeing a grown man on a kids bike, tattoos, or what, that compels the locals to make audible commentary, but for some reason, I kind of get bummed out that a guy can't simply go out for a peaceful bike ride in this town.

I know that the people out in the country side of floyd county are not exempt, as I had a guy deliberately ride me off the road up by the school in the Knobs...it's where if you climb Spickert Knob, then make a left at the top and ride that road to the 4 way stop and there's the lawn-mower store and you hang a right there. Well, last year, I'm just riding, going up the little climb after the school and I had this guy towing a front end loader drive right next to me, then slowly drifts to the outside of the road. He sees me roll off into the ditch there and then speeds off.

Good times I tell ya'!

Anyway's, it's always an adventure, no matter where I ride here in New Albany. Keep it safe out there and I'd like to hear if anyone else has the same experiences.

22 Miles

Went out late this afternoon (circa 17:00) and got in 22 plus miles in a mild sprinkle of rain that felt pretty darn good considering how thick the air was with humidity. Did some fab hills in the Knobs before a serious shower forced me home.

Jon perhaps we have a ride after work this week for a ten miler or so?

Chugging

The summer has witnessed an ongoing platform of 2-3 rides per week, along the lines of 7-10 miles, perfectly relaxing and capable in that narrow window of tolerable humidity and availible sunlight. I have been plagued by arthritis for years but as of late my right knee has been killing me. I was much relived after my solo ten mile ride yesterday to have some relief. I will likely tackle a similar track this afternoon.

22.4 Miles

Went out after the brief shower this morning and rode to Georgetown/Lanesville and back home in what would be typical Bay Area weather, less it being a little warmer and more humid. We take for granted the area in which we live and ride our bicycles. The hills here are such a wonderful way to train if you are planning on taking a bicycle vacation sometime. My thoughts toward such this morning came about after having a great ride and appreciation for where I live.

evening news coverage....

Thanks to Matt for doing the story...only one error though....the race isn't next weekend, it's July 26th-29th.


Racing is an adrenaline rush for local BMXersBY MATTHEW CRESS

Matthew.Cress@newsandtribune.com


Thirty more seconds of madness. That’s what New Albany resident and nationally-ranked BMX bicycle racer Tommy Board will be seeking as he prepares for a trip to Victoria, British Columbia next weekend to compete as part of Team USA in the 35-and-over class at the event.
And he won’t be alone.
Board will be joined by Clarksville native Weston Pope, a BMXer who once ascended as high as No. 8 in the world rankings in 2002, all while playing four seasons for the Generals’ basketball team.
It’s a trip that Board and Pope have waited for a long time, and now the question is whether all the preparation will be in vain.
It’s a question of money, mostly. Neither Pope nor Board make their livings from BMX racing, as of now riding as amateurs on the national circuit.
“My pro days have come and gone,” said Board, now at 36 calling himself a “old man” in the sport. He was also a professional rider from 1998 to 2004. “Now, there are more important things. It keeps me young at heart, keeps me in shape. My physical condition is the best it’s ever been.”
Pope is a younger man, riding in the 17-24 age group — among the fastest-growing groups in the sport, and the launching point for those who are on the verge of becoming professional riders and making a living in the unheralded sport.
Now, their presence at one the biggest events of their careers is in jeopardy, up in the air due to the lack of money in a sport that is rarely taken seriously in a local world that eats up more traditional sports.
“This will always be an area that is consumed with football and basketball,” Board said. “I’ve tried to get as much exposure for it as I can. This is not a game like tee-ball or soccer. BMX is more a way of life.”
An expensive way of life. Board has already covered the $300 fee to sign up and enter the Canadian race. But that doesn’t cover lodging, food, or a rental car for the trip which spans from June 24-29.
“We’ve got it estimated at $1,200-1700 at most,” Board said. “It’s a sport that you really need to be financially secure to do all the necessary traveling.”
BMX racing is once again on the upswing in the United States, after a decade of lean times and flagging participation following its peak boom of the 1980’s.
Tommy Board, racing for 25 years, has been there for all of it.
“Our class is the largest class, because the guys who are still riding are the kids who started during the 80’s and have stayed with it,” Board said. “The bottom dropped out in the 90’s, but there was a resurgence around ‘98.”

14.8 miles
note: Quarry Road is freshly paved

Bicycling Film

Please check out this short film of cycling in San Francisco titled Russian Hill Roulette. It is about 5 minutes long and has both Windows and Quick Time.
http://www.russianhillroulette.com/

Caltrain 22nd Street Station San Francisco,CA

racing the kiddos!!!

Over the weekend, a race dubbed "Battle of the Villes" took place in Evansville, Indiana. This is a 3 race series, where Louisville, Evansville and Nashville bring their best to compete against each other for braggin' rights of sorts.

I can't tell you how hot and muggy it was in Evansville, but at one point, I thought I saw the devil in turn 3..lol..

The turnout and atmosphere was great and I think everyone had a great time!

We did have a pro/am race. I decided to get in it and race the kiddos and show 'em the "old man" still has some pony's!!! lol...here's the video from that race. Keep an eye on the guy in red, ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRMP_SEAHBg

25 miles