Moving on... visit our NEW BLOG

We've moved the blog to the NEW BLOG (click here) at missingsaddle.com.

Same content, same podcast, same waste of time. We'll miss you old blog.

le Tour

The time: 2005 last day of the Tour de France. The place: the street next to the Hotel Crillion 1 block off of the place de la Concorde. We are partying our brains out after 2+ weeks on the road working for VeloSport taking clients around France on their bikes when who walks by?? None other than John Kerry sporting a diminutive aide and a Livestrong bracelet. My drunken French co-workers delayed him for a few minutes while we all got our pictures taken. The woman in red is my friend Eddy's wife. Eddy Cordier is a northern France BMX and road super star. I wonder what Sebastian (on his right) is saying to him...

Ahead Set

Friday evening John (Charlotte) attended a scultpure unveiling event. The sculpture was commissioned by a German living locally. He commissioned David Cerny, a Czech born artist for an installation in the public plaza. It was a big social event with a dramtic unveiling.



And the drama was not anticlamactic as the work itself is extraordinary. What the photo does not show is the kinetic feature of this- each of those horizontal striations is free to rotate, giving the work multiple configurations and orientations. The event was capped a live performance by the band The Plastic People of the Universe. A band that did hard time under the Czechslovokian regime and was an inspiration to the leaders of the Velvet Revolution that made the Czech Republic democratic nation. I know- not exactly cycling related, but none the less interesting.

New Podcast - 9/19/07

New podcast is up and waiting. It is the LAST time we will speak of the over/under topic. Desert Dog gets in the last word on the subject. I've got lots of Tour of Missouri swag so keep the emails coming and maybe you will be selected as the LOTW.

Also, no training questions this episode. We want some. We have at our disposal Cycling, Triathlon and Endurance Sport Coach Stephen McGregor, Ph.D from the Peaks Coaching Group. He is a power specialist and will answer your emailed questions on upcoming podcasts.

ToM Final Thoughts

Back from the first Tour of Missouri yesterday and integrating into normal life. When you travel on a big event you are in a bubble where the bike race is the only thing going on. Driving on closed roads, organized meals, massive crowds, press, team vehicles, athletes... it's hard to imagine there is anything else going on in the rest of the world sometimes. Anyway, here are some last, random images from the ToM in no particular order.

First Things First

While the other John is in Missouri, this John has been moving south. Temporarily I will be without my beloved Man Cave. Apartment living doesn't allow for such luxuries. However, needs are needs and this is my solution for temporary Man Cave/ride set up area. Now just to figure out where to put a work bench, vice, reapir stand. The Two Johns equipment standards are only maintained by careful examination and testing. You may notice there are a few empty spaces...

Missouri love company

The start in Lebanon was mobbed with 1600 school kids! Each class picked out a team and studied that teams culture, language, geography, etc. The 5th grade class pictured here selected Spain's Prodir Saunier Duval team. The team was truly touched and is going to hang up this banner at their head quarters in Spain. The kids got some autographs and cycling caps for their efforts.


I rode in the Sparkasse car today. Here's a little on-road seat adjustment.



I spotted these Elvi (that's plural for Elvis) at the finish in Columbia.


For my mom. She went to Stephens.

Tour of Missouri sights

Here is what happens when someone runs into you at 40 mph...


Sublimating leader jersies.


Tecos warming up for the TT.

The TdF winner is here.

Carbon tubies? Have not seen these before.

on the road from Clinton, MO

There is rolling support for the riders from wheels and bikes from Mavic to medical attention from the Dr.'s car. Sunscreen was in order this morning and the Doc's were happy to oblige. Unfortunately Dan Smatz, BMC, needed a bit more during the stage. He hit an armadillo (yes, there are armadillo in Missouri) and went to the hospital with a badly broken collar bone.





Here are some riders from my favorite foreign team in the race. Sparkasse is a German outfit. They've got some studly riders who have been finishing well up in the sprints and making the breaks. I am going to ride in their team car tomorrow.

Tour of Missouri

This John is at the Tour of Missouri working as Competion Coordinator a.k.a. team babysitter. I'll be posting daily audio blogs on the feed player on this site. Check back and shoot me an email if you want me to focus on anything in particular.

John

Regional Development

In the latest podcast we speak with Chad Thomson, Director and member of the Abercrombie & Fitch Pro Development Cycling Team. They are based in northern Ohio and have done quite well this year. They are looking for a sponsor for '08 and beyond, so if you've got a spare 100k laying around...

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New Podcast - 9/04/07

New podcast should be up this evening. Prepare yourselves... it's a long one.

We are receiving some incredible logo ideas. Thank you for all of the hard work. Winner to be announced soon!