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Category: Cycling Page 13 of 34

The Clarendon Cup Returns to Arlington This Weekend

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On May 26, 2009

In Cycling, DC, Virginia

This coming Saturday, the Air Force Cycling Classic Clarendon Cup (previously CSC Invitational) will see its 12th edition take place in the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington. It’s a great race.  In fact, this tight and twisty circuit is what got me into pro cycling in the first place (having stumbled onto it, one summer afternoon in 1998).  The DC area is very lucky to have a race like this, I think (see this previous post for a preview of the 2008 edition), and even luckier that it has survived.  So lets get out and support it, yes?  Racing starts at 8:15am, and is scheduled to run as follows:

If you’re not that into cycling, and just want to see what the fuss is about, I suggest just dropping by for the men’s pro race at 12:15.   Finally, I’m hosting friends and fans with some drinks and munchies at my place (just a few blocks away) immediately after the men’s pro podium presentation.  Any and all are welcome – I just ask for a brief note (to clarendoncup@blacknell.net) so I can get you details and plan appropriately.

National Park Service Family Friendly Rides in DC

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On May 12, 2009

In Cycling, DC

Just rec’d this:

Join the National Park Service and Trips for Kids [this Saturday] as they start off their annual family friendly bike tours on the Mall.  The rides start at 2:30 at the Jefferson (Trips for Kids starts at 2:00 from Gravelly Point to get a little extra riding in) and last about 2 hours.  The rides are family friendly, fun and incredibly informative.  Trailer and tow-a-bikes welcome.  I hope to see folks out there. More info below.

http://www.nps.gov/mall/planyourvisit/national-bike-frequently-asked-questions.htm

I’ve never done this ride myself, but Trips for Kids is a solid organization run by great people, so I expect this will be pretty well organized.

Friday Notes: Late Edition

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On May 8, 2009

In Cycling, Law, Politics

Spent much of the day at the Brennan Center’s Money in Politics 2009: New Horizons for Reform conference.  It was well worth the time spent, I think, and I came away with a better understanding of the state of play on campaign finance reform (really, try and manage your jealousy).   I’ll post a little more about it over the weekend.

~

Tomorrow brings the Centenary Giro d’Italia!  Everything you ever needed and wanted to know (and more) about the 100th running of one of this pro cycling stage race it can be found at PodiumCafe.  I suggest starting with Chris’ Workingman’s Guide to the Centenary Giro to get an idea for which stages you might want to catch.  This year, the race is very accessible, as Universal Sports will be carrying it both live online and broadcast.  And in case you’re wondering whether this is just me overhyping some dull race, check out this map of the end of Stage 19:

Yes, it ends on Mt. Vesuvius.   Here are a couple of other shots, including the Blockhaus climb and roll along the Amalfi coastline.  In my opinion, the Giro d’Italia has – hands down – the most beautiful course of the three Grand Tours.  Even the dullest flat stages take you through some beautiful countryside.  Give it a go.

~

Whether Nancy Pelosi knew about the Bush Administration’s torturing or not, it’s entirely irrelevant to the need to investigate and prosecute.  If that process results in damage to Pelosi?  So be it.  (And her possible exposure is all the more reason to get a real prosecutor on the case, and not some “bi-partisan panel” to tidy it all up.)

~

John Cole (These Deaths Are On You, Obama) and Dan Froomkin (Any Remorse, Mr. President?) remind us that the deaths of innocents in the name of America didn’t stop with the election.

Godspeed, Yehuda Moon

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On May 4, 2009

In Cycling, Personal, Society

This is coming a bit late, but I just wanted to note that Yehuda Moon has come to a stop, and is coming off of my links on the right.  It’s only in my 30s that I’ve truly come to appreciate the medium that is comics, and the Yehuda Moon strip has been part of that.  If you haven’t checked it out before, and are at all interested in the practicalities and politics of cycling, do check it out.  And if it comes back, please do join me in kicking in a few $/€’s for it.

Scandanavian Socialism Run Amok!

By

On April 29, 2009

In Cycling, EU, Society

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWF4x01MkzE[/youtube]

Police not only stop cyclists and give them helmets, they hug the cyclists.

(actually, I suspect this is a clever bit of viral capitalism.)

Bike Show to Benefit Arlington’s Phoenix Bikes

By

On April 22, 2009

In Cycling, Personal, Virginia

As I’ve mentioned here before, I’m a fan of Arlington’s Phoenix Bikes.   It’s a full service bike shop staffed in large part by students drawn from its surrounding neighborhood.  The kids learn a wide range of skills in the process of earning their own bike, and Arlington gets both a good shop and happier students.  Wins all around.  With that in mind, I hope you’ll join me next Thursday at the second annual Bike Show:

The BIKE SHOW is Phoenix Bikes’ yearly Birthday Bash & Spring Fundraising event. Our first year’s celebration was a great success. For 2009, the BIKE SHOW is back and better than ever with a focus on showcasing DC Metro’s Extraordinary Cyclists!

  • food, drink, and bike-blended smoothies,
  • guest speakers featuring Eric Gilliland (WABA) and Keith Oberg (Bikes for the World),
  • great auction items,
  • two incredible raffle bikes:
    • A new custom-fit Tipo Uno from Torelli and the Bike Rack; and
    • A Novara Scot Nicol-designed, high quality steel touring frame with drop bars & bar-end shifters, 26″ wheels, custom painted by Pohanka Collision and outfitted for year-round commuting,
  • and the amazing company of friends and fellow cyclists.

And you won’t have any excuses since this year’s location is convenient to the Bike Path (indoor bike valet!), the Rosslyn Metro, and free parking at the Spectrum Theater. Be careful on the way home though – thanks to Capitol City Brewing, the beer will be an improvement this year too. A night you don’t want to miss!

Tickets, which include one raffle entry, are $20 in advance, $30 at the door, and can be purchased here.   Drop me a note, too, if you end up going.

Want to Understand a Pro Bike Race?

By

On April 13, 2009

In Cycling

Go to Cyclocosm.  The proprietor, Cosmo, has started a series of short (< 5 minute) video recaps that illustrate and analyze what happened in a given race.   He does such a great job that I don’t think you really need to know much more than the basics (i.e., cycling is a team sport, a team usually has a leader that it supports in order to ensure he crosses the line first, and it’s always easier to move faster in a group than when you’re alone.).  Here’s the video Cosmo put together for yesterday’s Paris-Roubaix race:


How the Race Was Won – 2009 Paris-Roubaix Video Analysis from Cosmo Catalano on Vimeo.

If you liked that, you can find a number of videos covering this season’s races at Cyclocosm.

Happy Endings

By

On April 10, 2009

In Cycling

Cyclelicious has the story:

Ruth Slovenski is my hero.

She rides a blue 1943 Huffy bicycle with a basket to get around. The cool thing — Ruth is older than the bike: she’s 83 years old.

She got the bicycle as a gift from her parents when she was a teenager in 1943. It’s the only bicycle she’s ever needed or wanted. When she was out for a coffee run last weekend, somebody stole the bike.

A happy ending: When they heard about the theft, several people offered reward money for the bike’s recovery. Somebody who claims he received the bike saw Ruth’s story and turned her bike in to the police.

(and you people thought this was another on today’s theme, didn’t you?)

Preparations for the High Holy Day

By

On April 4, 2009

In Cycling, Personal

On a bit of a personal note, I spent the afternoon getting ready for celebrating tomorrow’s high holy day.  If you’re interested in how to do it properly, click on “more”.

Read More

My Bike Stolen in Arlington – $200 Reward

By

On April 1, 2009

In Cycling, DC, Virginia

Son of a )(*#$@#@.  This bike was stolen from the Arlington Central Library on the evening of March 31st. I’d really like it back, and I will pay $200 (no questions asked) for information that results in its recovery.

'00 GT Rebound - Blue and White

Bike Details:

• ’00 GT Rebound – blue/white
• Continental Town & Country slick tires (different from those pictured)
• Neon green water bottle cage (extra style points, no?)
• Arlington County Police Department bicycle registration sticker

Please email me at bike @ blacknell.net with any information. Thank you.

(And yes, here’s the part that really sucks – no, it wasn’t locked up.  M. had just arrived on it, came into the WABA annual meeting to get the keys from me (to use the lock securing my other bike) and in about the time that that took?  Gone.   So, uh, make my lesson yours.  Or something like that.)

Update: I seriously appreciate the support that’s come my way for this.  This bike has been well loved not just by us, but also many of my friends – as a borrowed daily commuter, adventure race finisher, and all around solid piece of fun and transportation.  Here’s hope that it can continue to serve as that, even if it doesn’t come back.

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