pure joy

Remember when you were a kid? Remember that feeling of learning to ride a bike? My first bike was purple with a banana seat. I remember my dad running beside me while I made my first attempt on two wheels only. Remember after you got your balance, rode away solo, and felt the slightly springy tires on the pavement without the clattering of training wheels? Remember the realization that you could actually go somewhere on your bike? You could meet a friend at the park, go down to the corner store for an ice cream, or just cruise. Remember the first time you went faster than you thought safe? Remember how it made you feel? Remember the first time you crashed? Remember how the trees smell when spring finally arrives?

Remember all these things next time training seems like a drag, or the weather isn't just how you like it, or you are thinking maybe you should just hang it up for a while.

John

This Week's Podcast

Dr. Scott's prescription this week -- drink 5 pints of Bass and listen to the new episode of the Two Johns Podcast.

Weather or not

Need to know the weather forcast? Ask a cyclist. We always know when and where it is going to rain, sleet, snow, or blow. We know how warm it will be at 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. We know at what time we'll be able to peel off the arm warmers, or which gloves to wear.

Weather.com has just made it a whole lot easier with a super cool interactive map that combines weather radar with a Google Earth-type image. You can see it in satellite or road map layout and zoom in to find out just when and if you'll encounter rain.

Stay dry,

John

Christmas in March

*not pictured: hat, gloves, wind jacket, thermo vest, leg warmers, long and s.s. skinsuits (l.s. for cyclocross, or for my world pursuit title attempt)

I admit it. I love stuff. New team bikes, helmets, glasses, and... of course the arrival of the new team kit. As in years past, it is Castelli produced. Thanks to team manager Jeff, we do not go without a layer for every 5° change in temperature.

How not to get doored

(*Ok, so technically the injury pictured here didn't happen as the result of getting doored. It happened in a cyclocross race a few years ago. Plus the broken collar bone would probably be on the other side if you were doored... unless you're in Australia, the UK or Hong Kong. I just put it in for dramatic effect.)

HOW NOT TO GET DOORED:

1) Don't ride your bike where there are cars. Find a bike path (you'll have to deal with joggers, strollers, squirrels, dogs, bladers, weavers, etc. though) or ride your bike on the trainer in the basement.

2) Ride more than a doors length away from parked cars. Older Lincoln Continentals and AMC Pacers have doors that are like 6' long, so this option doesn't always work.

3) Don't ride close to the row of parked cars. Ride far enough away to give yourself an exit strategy.

4) Look though the rear window of cars for someone sittling in the driver's seat.

5) If the rear window is tinted, look in the driver's side rear view mirror.

6) Did the car just pull to the curb and stop? Maybe someone is about to get out!?!

7) Always know what's coming from behind so you can post up in your lane and not get squeezed against the parked cars.

Ride safe,

John

New Podcast Is Up!

Dr. Scott says take a healthy dose of the Two Johns Podcast to cure boredom.

Let the rave begin...

Looking for music to ride by? You won't want to miss our interview with DJ Steveboy of Podrunner and Groove Elecectric fame. He's an LA DJ who puts up his mixes on iTunes for us all to train by. He had over 3,000,000 downloads last year just on the Podrunner weekly cast?!!

What could be better than some choice roads and good tunes pumping through the iPod to keep you motivated?

Tune in to the next 2johns podcast to hear how and why he does it. In the mean time, check out his website dj steveboy

Cheers,

John

Images from the first race o' the season

New team rides securely mounted


Jim's non-team issue (circa 1990) has to ride in the car -- like the dog that it is (is that 8 speed!?)


Nervous anticipation for the dreamers in the registration que. "Maybe this is my year to turn pro..."


Nice! Pink Floyd warm-ups. Incidentally, I ended up in the break with this dude. He was extremely strong. Of course he's only 20 years old... He's probably never even listened to Dark Side of the Moon.


Retired? Jim gets some pointers from the legend.


After the battle. Mmmm... aero carbon tubulars...


Jim refuels with Thin Mints. By the way, he is a Girl Scout and sold over 200 boxes this year. Good job Jim!


The other John looks too tired to do the post-race podcast.


Our rides are pimped.

Tour de Georgia news...

New podcast up on iTunes with an exclusive interview from TdG organizers. Find out who will be racing in Georgia this year?!!??

At least someone is listening to the podcast...

Listener Jim emailed these suggestions for podcast logos:





Keep those suggestions coming!

Cheers,

John

Those Heady Days of Heat & Humidity

Most people have heard the 'Shroud of Turin'. This is the 'Residue of the Hurt Locker'. Spotted here at the Top of Lookout Mountain, near the historic Battle Above the Clouds site.

Why didn't I think of this?

(photo courtesy of pezcyclingnews.com)

How to wash your bike indoors

You've just done a 3 1/2 hour ride in the snow/sleet. The last thing you feel like doing is going back out in the elements to wash your bike, but you can't hang it up with all of the road crud on it. What to do? Wash it in your house. Here's how (a utility sink in the basement works best but you can use a bathtub):

1) Make yourself some hot tea and de-chamois.


2) Wait for your wife/significant other to leave the house.

3) Occupy your child(ren) with 2 episodes of Sponge Bob or an appropriately themed computer game so they can't rat you out.


4) Assemble cleaning supplies.


5) Start with the wheels (they fit pretty well in a medium-sized utility sink).


6) The bike is harder to mangage. You've got to wash it in sections and it makes a mess.




Rinse, dry and you are done with the bike. Thoroughly clean the surrounding walls, floor, sink, washer, dryer, etc. and you are done!