Bicycle thread

[heynowref]

A moto driver was killed in an accident on the way to today's stage in the Giro d'Italia

http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspo...otorcycle.html


Fabio drove the famed cycling photog Bettini for 30+ years.

http://www.bettiniphoto.net/


Carrying a photog is something I've done for about 7 years here in the states.
Much easier here than over in Europe.

[pierce]

The following recalls have been announced:

— About 3,600 Norco bicycle frames, manufactured in Taiwan by Norco Performance Bikes of Canada, because the frames can crack and separate. The company has received one report of an injury. The recalled products were sold by bicycle distributors around the country between September 2006 and February 2009. Details: by phone at 800-663-8916; by Web at http://www.norco.com or http://www.cpsc.gov.

— About 16,000 bicycles with JD suspension forks, which were manufactured in Taiwan by JD Components and imported by Trek Bicycle Corp. of Waterloo, Wis., because the forks can lose alignment. This could cause the front wheel to turn unexpectedly. The company has received four reports of misaligned forks. The recalled products were sold by Trek bicycle dealers around the country between August 2008 and April 2009. Details: by phone at 800-382-2453; by Web at http://www.trekbikes.com or http://www.cpsc.gov.

— About 1,500 bicycles with JD suspension forks, which were manufactured in Taiwan by JD Components and imported by Cannondale Bicycle Corp. of Bethel, Conn., because the forks can lose alignment. This could cause the front wheel to turn unexpectedly. No incidents have been reported. The recalled products were sold by Cannondale bicycle dealers between February 2009 and April 2009. Details: by phone at 800-245-3872; by Web at http://www.cannondale.com or http://cpsc.gov.

[Mr Head]

Originally Posted by heynowref

Carrying a photog is something I've done for about 7 years here in the states.
Much easier here than over in Europe.

I did that back in the 80's for the Coors Classic and other races around Colorado. I even carried an ESPN guy in a sidecar.
My great preference were the small female still photographers since they are light. The big line-backer sized beta-max guys are killers. I had one nearly choke the life out of me. He sat backwards on the motorcycle, and hooked his massive arm aaround my neck and proceeds to lean waaay off the side, nearly pulling me and the bike over on him.

Usually though I worked races as a motorcycle-mounted official/referee.

Best seats in the house.

[skibum69]

hey Imaposer, here are a few shots from today's offroad fun

lots of rooty places


the point in the distance is Cape Spear, the most easterly point of land in North America


rock, rock and more rock




scenery


did I say rock?



guess who didn't make the corner?

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by Mr Head

I did that back in the 80's for the Coors Classic and other races around Colorado. I even carried an ESPN guy in a sidecar.
My great preference were the small female still photographers since they are light. The big line-backer sized beta-max guys are killers. I had one nearly choke the life out of me. He sat backwards on the motorcycle, and hooked his massive arm aaround my neck and proceeds to lean waaay off the side, nearly pulling me and the bike over on him.

Usually though I worked races as a motorcycle-mounted official/referee.

Best seats in the house.

I've been thinkin about doin that since I started riding MCs and not racing bicycles as much.

Still thinkin...

M

[flip18436572]

Thanks for the pictures. I need to find somewhere to try that kind of thing to see if I would enjoy it as much as I think I would. I would probably be the person in the last picture on the ground who missed the turn though.

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by skibum69

Nice gash in the leg!



M

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by flip18436572

Thanks for the pictures. I need to find somewhere to try that kind of thing to see if I would enjoy it as much as I think I would. I would probably be the person in the last picture on the ground who missed the turn though.

Ya don't START there, you build up to it.

DAMHIK

M

[skibum69]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

Nice gash in the leg!



M

good eye, the leg blood is from yesterday and the rest of it is a tattoo of the x-ray from the first time I broke it

oh yeah, gummee is right-a lot of these sections are not beginner in any way shape or form, the pics do not do justice for the difficulty. I bought my first mtn bike in 1986 and it was dodgy as hell on my single speed many times over.

Don't let it scare you, there's lots to work up to

[Mr Head]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

I've been thinkin about doin that since I started riding MCs and not racing bicycles as much.

Still thinkin...

M

Now days? Lots of financial exposure. I'd take a pass.

It is a long hard day but the best seat in the house and you get to watch some of the best.

The downside is very down. I enjoyed this activity and giving back a bit to the cycling community that changed my life. Before my friend talked me into working that first CC, in 1983, I knew nothing of cycling or racing. I had a 10-speed but really didn't know anything about it, or the whole racing thing.
I learned a lot and made a bunch of friends. Lived some dreams and damn it was and is fun.
Who needs a gym? I have a bicycle. This IS something a guy can do forever.
Being a referee was work, marshal was more work and less money. Photog bike? Very cool.
I'll have to go scan some old photos.

We had a time, a time or two. OK, maybe more than two. Someday we'll have to sit around a fire in the desert and tell some stories. Big names, bigger lies, and sometimes the lies are true.
My favorite thing about cycling was how fast we could ride legally. The non-riding world would view us as crazy or just riding bicycles. We were going fast. Hitting the apex, sliding, I learned by watching European pros pedal through corners in tight criteriums.

And as Paul Simon sang, "...still crazy after all these years..."

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by Mr Head

We had a time, a time or two. OK, maybe more than two. Someday we'll have to sit around a fire in the desert and tell some stories. Big names, bigger lies, and sometimes the lies are true.
My favorite thing about cycling was how fast we could ride legally. The non-riding world would view us as crazy or just riding bicycles. We were going fast. Hitting the apex, sliding, I learned by watching European pros pedal through corners in tight criteriums.

And as Paul Simon sang, "...still crazy after all these years..."

Its amazing how fast you can go downhill on bicycles. All that speed and danger without the ATTGATT of MC riding.

M

[Mr Head]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

Its amazing how fast you can go downhill on bicycles. All that speed and danger without the ATTGATT of MC riding.

M

Yeah, well.... Brain out...

JUst because they call me a "Rocket Scientist", doesn't mean I'm real smart all the time...


Besides the brakes work...




...sort of..

[skibum69]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

Its amazing how fast you can go downhill on bicycles. All that speed and danger without the ATTGATT of MC riding.

M

Uh huh, rapid deceleration injuries to go with it. My noted ones are a class III AC separation, bone spurs at C3, C7, and a reduced opening for the nerve bundle left side of C7, 4cm full thickness tear when I blew my rotator cuff with a shredded biceps tendon to match and I'm pretty sure some torn labrum in my hip, all from riding big fun DH bikes

My brakes worked fine then too, and after the second shoulder wearing body armour I pretty much stopped bothering to wear any

[heynowref]

this is my second RIP in a couple days

Steve Larsen

http://www.velonews.com/article/9223...lapsing-during

[toolfan]

Originally Posted by heynowref

this is my second RIP in a couple days

Steve Larsen

http://www.velonews.com/article/9223...lapsing-during

Holy Shit!

Steve Larsen was an ANIMAL when I was getting into racing, right as he was retiring. I lived in Bend, OR and ended up buying a pair of his old shoes. I still have them.