from sim in france...

Coming into the corner he was in the caravan.  Astana car stopped just before the corner to let him by, then saw the other cars coming behind him I guess because he totally gunned it and screached around the corner... sadly this was at just the same time as the ride came into the corner, forcing him to brake a little and change his line.. it didn't work out...Then 2 more guys nearly ran into the back of the Lotto car, the one weaved out to miss it and touched the front wheel of the guy behind him... they did NOT go down.... what a shables..

-sg

 

Perhaps it’s because I have a fondness for local coffee outlets that support cycling, such as a certain place in Arlington ( http://www.javashack.com/homepage.html ), or maybe it’s because my espresso machine at home has spoiled me; but, after the article noting the passing of Kurt Vonnegut, and last night’s hockey scores, I was immediately drawn to this piece on the Starbucks strikers in this morning’s Washington Post:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/11/AR2007041102322.html?hpid=features1&hp. 

 

Despite the fact that some of us frequent a certain Starbucks outlet for chess and various coffee products, this union action is surely worth noting on this blog.  It’s also worth noting that the specific union involved is the Industrial Workers of the World.

 

The IWW.  The Wobblies! 

 

This is the union of songwriter Joe Hill (writer of such gems as “The Preacher and the Slave:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There%27ll_Be_Pie_in_the_Sky_When_You_Die_%28That%27s_a_Lie%29), Eugene V. Debbs, and Mother Jones.  And, it’s a union that remains faithful to its radical roots with its true support of the rank-and-file, as opposed to those who would purport to represent the rank-and-file.

 

-- posted by Chris

how can you not be pleased by this....

Possible Pilot Program to Bicycle Between Government Center Complex Buildings   The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) wants your feedback. FCDOT is considering a pilot program to have bicycles available for employees to travel from the Herrity and Pennino buildings to the Government Center for meetings, deliveries, etc., instead of driving or walking. Biking this short distance would save gasoline and reduce emissions — you'll save money, get exercise and do your part to help the environment. Send your comments by Friday, April 13, to FCDOT's Bicycle Program Coordinator at bicycleprograms@fairfaxcounty.gov.

it's for real.  even if you're not directly affected, you're welcome to drop a line to the bicycle coordinator and thank them for the innovative approach and the hard work.  you're also encouraged to show a little bit of love to fabb who are continuing outreach and education efforts.  check out the details of their upcoming tour de tysons.  a whole lot different than ncvc's recent event, this will bring together development and policy folks to look at the area from a cyclists point of view: on bikes.  they discuss options and hopefully open some eyes.

-sg

Have bike; Will travel 

 

While the Washington, DC area went back into a return to winter of sorts this weekend, I took my new traveling Dahon break-away bike on its first airplane trip this weekend – to San Jose, California, where it was in the comfortable 70s.  I can report very few problems in transit (although the airline wanted to charge me an extra $80 on the way back for the bike, when it was forcefully pointed out to them that this was contrary to their policy regarding bike cases that are within in the size and weight limit, they relented).  Happily, I also seem to have learned the art of putting together and disassembling the break-away within the time frame the manufacturer predicts.  But before I get into the bicycle-related aspects of my reconnaissance in California on behalf of the Union, a few non-bicycle related matters to put it all in context:

 

Much of the San Jose area where I stayed looked like an office park.  Not necessarily offensive – in some places even nice – but nothing particularly adventurous either.  This is certainly true of the area where Rob – the reason for my visit – works.  Clearly, there’s been a lot of growth here – not too different from parts of Northern Virginia in that regard.  On the other hand, there were some really nice older structures in the downtown area, and in an area of what I think was Santa Clara, which I wandered into while getting (intentionally) lost on my bike ride on Friday.

 

This is why Rob has to always go to San Jose??!

 

Another structure, not old at all, in downtown San Jose was HP Pavilion, where we saw the Sharks play the Vancouver Canucks Saturday night.  Unfortunately, the Sharks lost the game, though it was close and they’re heading for the playoffs anyhow.  We were rooting for the home team, of course, but it’s nice to see a hockey game where you don’t feel too emotionally invested in what the outcome is – it certainly makes it easier to appreciate the good hockey played by both teams.  To this transplant from the Upper Midwest, it’s totally bizarre to see a hockey arena that serves sushi surrounded by large palm trees. Still, the fans there seemed far more enthusiastic then they do here for the Capitals (even when the Caps are playing well).  An enthusiastic sell-out crowd was on hand for the game, albeit in a smaller arena then “The Joe” in Detroit or ScotiaBank Place in Ottawa.

 

 

 

Go Sharks!  (Except for when they play the Red Wings, of course….)

 

In the world of cycling, I was very much impressed by San Jose’s facilities, with lots of various accommodations for bikes in the infrastructure.  Although I remain suspicious of the true utility of bike lanes, there were a number of streets where bikes lanes seemed an absolute necessity in order to legitimize the presence of bikes – for instance, the “expressway” which ran by our hotel.  There were also “shallows” on some side streets, markings on the road indicating that bikes are present but not marking out a specific designated lane for bikes.  I’m pretty sure I spied a few trails as well, though I didn’t ride any.  For the most part (with one exception), I found motorists to be generally respectful of the presence of bikes.  I don’t know if that experience is representative of cyclists in San Jose as a whole, but it’s notable as I was traversing the roadways in part during late rush hour with other comrades on two wheels heading to work.

 

From time-to-time, the topic of bicycles on the Metro system comes up on the Wash Cycle blog, most notably whether the authorities should lift the ban on bikes during rush hour (the answer is “yes.”  See http://washcycle.typepad.com/home/2007/02/dr_gridlock_dis.html#comments).  In this regard, it’s interesting to note that the light rail system in San Jose not only allows bicycles on board the trains, they also have a special spot where you can store them.  Very civilized!  When the revolution occurs, this model will be emulated throughout the land.  Although I hasten to note that the light rail system in San Jose doesn’t seem to have the volume of passengers the DC area metro has, it still goes to show that a large metro area can handle such as concept.  The buses out there also have the same kind of front-end bike racks with which Metro buses here are equipped.

 

Cool!  Bike racks on the light rail!

 

In doing my research for the trip, I had hoped to join in on a local group ride.  I found a number of rides in the area, but none on the full day I had free for me and my bike.  So, a local cyclist who spent some time in the Washington area clued me in on a route I couldn’t refuse to try.  A popular ride, apparently, with local cyclists, it was a road which climbs a hill to the east of San Jose – in fact, during the Tour of California, this climb is the KOM for the San Jose stage.

 

 

The route is roughly the reverse of this route:  http://www.bikely.com/cuesheet/route/Calaveras-Loop -- instead of climbing up Calaveras, I was advised climbing the Sierra Road side first would allow for a better descent – not as steep, thus affording a chance to enjoy the scenery more.  The “down side,” of course, is that Sierra is steeper then going up Calaveras.  If I had time, I would have done both on this trip, but I took the advice and took Sierra Road up.  Bikely.com says that the total climb is 674 meters, which puts it at 174 meters higher then the ride up from downtown Luray on Route 211 to the Thornton Gap entrance to Skyline Drive.  I think Sierra Road is steeper, however.  (As another point of reference, the Tuesday afternoon Hill Ride, according to http://www.ncvc.net/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=4, has a total climb value of 1650 feets, which works out to about 503 meters.)

Well, Jens Voigt I’m not!  (as if you needed to be told that…)  But, despite that, it also wasn’t quite as hard as I had anticipated.  It certainly would have been easier had there been some Racing Union colleagues there to egg me on – or at least some other cyclists.  None were to be found, until my descent, when I saw a number of cyclists making their way up the other way.  Sadly, the weather wasn’t ideal, either.  Had I been thinking, I would have waiting until later, as, again, my descent found much better weather – towards the city, it was grey and cloudy; towards the east, it was inspirationally blue.  Thus, the second half of the route was much more photogenic on this day, and is where most of these photos are taken.  Some sections reminded me of the Tour de France when it heads through sections of the Pyrenees (this was a Tour of California Stage 1 climb, I hasten to add -- of course -- thatit’s not even close to as high as the Pyrenees). 

 

 

 

Given the proximity to the route to downtown San Jose (I think one could easily do this on a good lunch break), it was surprisingly undeveloped.  Cows and horses were hanging out all over the places, grazing on nice green vegetation (which must turn brown in a month or so, I would think).  There were a few modest farm-type buildings, and a scattering of ostentatious estates, but I was impressed by the relative tranquility of the place.

 

 

 

Before heading down Calaveras when it met up with Felter Road, I took a right and enjoyed some more, er, “rolling hills” before turning around and heading back.  Maybe it was the time of day, or maybe it’s always like this, but I couldn’t believe how few motorists I encountered on this section.  In all, I doubt the full loop was much more then 20 miles, though I added some heading up Calaveras so I’m not positive.

 

Calaveras Road back closer to Piedmont (the cross road in the valley) went through a bit of a gap that felt almost canyon-like in some sections.  Then, flatness.  Maybe it’s all the development, but the valley there doesn’t seem anything like the Shenandoah Valley, which is undulating all over the place.  Well, I had the time, and it wasn’t lunchtime yet, so off I went wandering around the flat valley.  Not being equipped with a map, I just headed up and down urban streets to see what I could see, first back to near my hotel, then past it to what I believe ended up being “downtown” Santa Clara.  It’s odd to me, but I never really noticed any signs telling me where I was.  In any case, I got lost, got re-found again, and headed back to the hotel where I enjoyed a late lunch followed by some nice Peet’s coffee.  I’ll definitely have to use Rob’s job as an excuse to get my bike and I out there again!

 

--posted by Chris

the unholy roleur sent me this link over the weekend along with some hilarious comments.  i found it fairly interesting.  i try very hard to say something when i pass people, and generally try to be polite as well.  i went through a period where if i could see headphones on the person, i wouldn’t bother.  counted it as wasted breath.  i have since changed that, though it's unrelated to this story or something like it.

 

in the link above, i would note that it’s very nice to have a witness who corroborates your story.  we all commute a lot and it has to be a rare event for something like this to happen.  i think there are some interesting issues raised here.  does a pedestrian who is unaware or unresponsive to their surroundings constitute a danger?  would it rise to the standards of endangerment?  one would be quick to assume a role for contributory negligence as well, though you never can be sure.  i've contacted the small army of lawyers we keep on retainer to see if i can get a clear reading on this...

The Racing Union Committee for Physical Culture and Sports Sub-Committee for Bicycle Racing and Event Commission denounces in the strongest terms the capitalist and ill-considered tomfoolery on display here by a misguided individual who has misused and mistreated the general cycling community. Even though the Union wholeheartedly supports the use of bourgeois mechanisms to fight for freedom from tyranny and oppression, to allow innocent and unsuspecting racers to believe that $40,000 in prize money has been acquired for the distribution to winners in a bicycle race is unacceptable.

You will be reminded that the People’s team has already declared this event and venue in perpetuity for the People in its continuing efforts to glorify cycling and two-wheeled transportation. Efforts to illegally and illegitimately co-opt this celebration of Unionist thought and progress is unthinkable and will be met with single-minded and invincible resistance by the vanguard of human-powered locomotion.

Above: Comrade Line at the finish (photo by me)

Below: Comrade Gibbons mid-race; me sporting my new Racing Union kit (photos by Rob)

                            

  

-- posted by Chris

as one who spends a considerable amount of time advancing racing union thought, i'm constantly looking at the overlooked.  people can't seem to see the obvious stuff staring them in the face.  i usually chalk this up to the materialsm and the capitalist and imperialist proclivities that modern americans display so proudly.  but racing union thought seeks to take what people see as problems and produce answers that serve cyclists and citizens.  here's a nice example.

1. mark sommers floats a very cool email indicating that dc velo are seeking to make their bike race carbon neutral. 
2. people new to racing union thought may perceive an obligation, a necessary response, to call out this team for shamelessly plugging their sponsor and seeking new and different ways to make riders interact with corporate entities to help advertise these services.  bill luecke sort of comes through with this email, though he prefers to hit them from a slightly different angle.  however, racing union thought should find no real fault in an organization that attempts to link cycling with social change.  the fact that corporate entites are involved is secondary to the goal that is stated.  this effort is union approved.  and please note: luecke should probably have disclosed his background as a metallurgist and his lucrative corporate ties to big aluminum before attacking a team that rides so much carbon but that's a different post. 
3. on a totally different front, discussion about what promoters do with race entry fees from riders who don't show up can be found here and here and here.

so racing union thought brings us to the only obvious answer to this whole question.  i now unveil my proposal for a new mandatory mabra policy: all promoters must account for race entry fees which were not used and apply that money to buying carbon credits for their event.  further, since the rider who did not show up at the event likely did not drive, and as a result did not consume fossil fuels, the rider should earn 2 bar points for themselves in the category of their choice and one team bar point.  the mabra bod can and should design a form: carbon-abatement bar point requisition.  this form will be a carbonless, five leaf system.  top copy goes to the rider with the other four copies going to the mabra bar coordinator, the event's chief referee, the mabra permit coordinator - record keeper and one copy going to usac in colorado springs.  let's aim to prototype this system by june so we can roll it out for the full 2008 racing season with confidence.  volunteers?

update: go get 'em evelyn!  and as for you mr. unholy roleur, i like the thinking you posted in our comments.  finding a nexus between beer consumption, cyclists, cycling and saving the earth is an achievement.  i have some specific concerns surrounding the fact that many beers i appreciate come on a nitrogen feed so there may be some toxic biochemical issues to work out.  we can't offer you one of them fancy-schmancy bolshevik medals as you have committed a few too many crimes against racing union thought in your illustious past, however, we note your gradual progress towards our world view and welcome you as a brother and fellow traveller.  any union betwixt zymurgy and cycling is union approved.

- posted by scott

caveat emptor.  this advice is handed out, from person to person, from incident to incident.  it's treated like wisdom.  you all know the difference between intellingence and wisdom don't you?  you can tell a child repeatedly not to touch a hot stove, but they often need to learn for themselves what the danger behind "hot stove" is.  intelligence is easily understood as facts but without experience to provide context for them.  wisdom is it's complement; it provides the framework within which you can use facts to do useful things.

what do all of these things have in common?  i've been giving some thought to the recent dust up over the pawnshop in dc that was serving as a front for stolen bicycles.  one issue that this incident clearly illustrates is that the way we buy and sell things using the internet is still in flux.  we look at ebay or craigslist or some other online bazaar and scope out the wheelsets, frames and components that we would like.  the price is considerably lower than that at your local bike shop so what's not to like?  here, my friends, lies the crux of the issue regarding intelligence and wisdom.

getting burned on a transaction is difficult to understand.  you saw the bike.  you payed your money.  you followed the rules.  the facts are on your side.  but then something went wrong.  in some cases it goes horribly wrong.  the wisdom that comes from this is in learning to appreciate the numerous additional kinds of risk that are out there.  the details vary but the motif is stunningly common.  i'm not going to prattle on about this, because we've all had friends who had these types of things go wrong.

instead, i'm going to introduce a new feature which i call: kevin's sketchy internet bike postings.  these are named for kevin, not because he's unreliable, but because he sends me more sketchy bike postings than anyone else by a long shot.  first up is this nice offering:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/bik/301842440.html

check in man.  new bike plus five hundy in accessories for $650 because the dude is lazy and/or changed his/her mind.  as kevin said, wtf??!!  might be a gem of a value.  might also be a hopelessly surreal encounter.  i know you're curious, but should you follow up?  can you afford not to?  it probably won't work out, but what if it did?

i need to be clear about one thing.  i'm not implying these bikes are stolen or the postings are fraudulent.  i'm merely amused at how ridiculous they are.  around my house, we joke about something making your "spidey sense" tingle.  look at the postings we put under this category and if you have the slightest instinct to hit that "buy it now" button, go back and re-read the section about intelligence and wisdom.

- - - posted by scott

 

My right-wing nutjob officemate loaned me a book a few weeks ago.  Written in the mid-1980s, the tome is intended to be a “how-to” guide in case the Soviets invade the United States and take over.  It suggests that “we can by no means guarantee that readers of this book will be among the survivors, but at least, we offer some tips that might mean that their chances will be considerably improved.”  Sort of a “practical” Red Dawn, I suppose.

My officemate seems to take this stuff very seriously.  He's very conservative.  He's worked for numerous right-wing causes, and seems to regard almost any mainstream Republican as too liberal.  When Virginia passed its anti-gay amendment in the last election, he was so excited that ... well, he was excited.  It worries me that he seems to have a fondness for Mike R-P when he stops by the office.  Anyhow, the fact that my officemate and I get along at any level is something like a miracle, as I am just the opposite of him.  Perhaps it's because I have a certain fascination with right-wing paranoia.  Thus, when he offered to loan me his book, I was indeed excited to read the thing, though it occurs that maybe he thought it would somehow convert me to his point of view.

It did not.

I finally got around to reading the book this weekend, and was a little disappointed that the book wasn’t more rich with material then it was.  There are, nonetheless, some juicy tidbits, which I've shared below.  Written by Robert Conquest (which sounds like a porn name), and Jon Manchip White (I’m not even going there!), the book is entitled “What to do when the Russians Come:  A Survivors Guide.”

After “a flurry of ‘by-elections’ to fill the seats that have been vacated by men who have been executed, who have fled the country, or who have resigned in despair,” the book suggests, “Congress and state and local bodies will be largely transformed into organs that offer no effective resistance to the consolidation of the new order.” 

Interesting, I thought – and that is different from today in what way …. ?

Executions and forced labor, it seems, would figure large under the new order:  I suppose THAT'S different:

“In a ‘difficult’ country like America, where the traditions of liberty has been strong, the probability is that, apart from executions, about 25 percent of the adult population will ultimately be sent to forced-labor camps or exiled under compulsory settlement in distant desert or artic regions …”

The good news is that those of us who work for the government are apparently safe, for the book suggests that “like all inefficient social systems, the Soviet Union is a bureaucrats’ paradise.  There will be no lack of reports to compile and forms to fill in, with a corresponding need for hordes of clerks.”  The new order might also be good for minorities: “The Russians will turn their attention to the blacks, as to the other minorities, as a major article of policy … The American Communists at one time envisaged a black Soviet republic in the old “Black Belt” in the South; but this was abandoned long ago in favor of an integrationist attitude, and it now seems unlikely, although perhaps not quite impossible, that it will be revived.  More probably areas with a high proportion of black population will have black mayors, and the first secretary of the local Communist party will also be black.”

Black mayors?!  How shocking!!  I’m also told by the book that women will have to work instead of being housewives.  My gawd, when will the horror stop!?

I’m thinking Racing Union might want to step up its training because athletes will apparently fare well in the new order:  “… the dangers of the profession are comparatively small, and you will have the satisfaction of being able to give your fellow citizens harmless pleasure at a time when there will be little of that around.”

Oddly, and in contradiction to the whole business of being in shape to survive the work camps (“If you at present perform a desk job or follow some other sedentary occupation, it is vital that you make yourself fit and ready for hard manual labor.”), the book suggests that smoking is a good option.  “We do not urge you to take up smoking again,” the book says, “but if you do, the risks will be negligible compared with the others facing you.  If you do give in to it, you may find the sense of revivification worth it, since unlike other drugs, even alcohol, it will not blunt the edge of your vigilance.”

There’s some good news in the book.:  “Baptist will be peculiarly ill regarded by the Communist authorities…,” as will John Birch Society members (!), and KKK members (yes, that’s really in the book).  On the other hand, there’s this useful warning against member of the “New Left,” who are all, apparently, gay, on drugs, and wear beards:

“You should … make some attempt to come to terms with reality.  For example, the Communist party line will not embrace pot smoking, homosexuality, hardly even beards.  Therefore, if you are an adherent of the New Left, you should consider (1) getting rid of your drugs, (2) concealing your deviant proclivities, and (3) shaving off your whiskers.”

The book concludes with the advice “Burn this book.”  I think I agree.

--posted by Chris

song of the volga by vasily kandinksky

good luck to everyone going down to jeff cup this weekend.  that's a great way to kick of the season.  oh, and remember to drive slowly, the first responders from those pastoral communities and municipalities along 29 are very eager to write you tickets if you are recklessly endangering their populations with your big city driving habits.

I was riding at hains with the wrob today.  he spanked me.  i was riding at my limit and he kept pulling through in strong fashion.  the upwind side was tough, but the downwind side was worse.  he was doing like 350 watts, with a tailwind, so there's nowhere for me to hide and no real advantage to drafting.  brutal, and my legs are shattered.  i had hoped to play some bike polo tonight but I'm going to have to feel significantly better than i do now.

to clarify something from robb's blog post, which references this entry, i should have been clearer.  robb is not the person who i was referring to as jackass #1.  I thought that was clear, but apparently it was not.  in fact, i don't know the guy's name, which is why i called him jackass #1.  robb probably knows who it is, but i don't really care enough to ask.  robb is right: it couldn't be him because he can't come around nima.  and it can't have been me: i can't come around nima either.  so it's someone else.  maybe robb will remeber who it was so i can actually call him out by his proper name.

the only place where i did call out robb was in telling him to update his blog more often.  robb is one of those guys who can dish it out, and take it.  that's increasingly rare in our area.  so it's nice to see him regaining some blogging form.  here's hoping he keeps at it, and does more blogging than riding, so the next time i see him i can kick his ass on the bike.

now that i think about it a bit more, i am wondering if rob had a significant advantage.  he was using an ipod and mentioned that he had the bad brains going.  after he mentioned that, i started trying to sing and hum all the tunes i could think of from i against i but ended up sort of endlessly looping and mixing parts of "at the movies", "sailin on" and "banned in dc" through my limited, lactate-addled cognition.  i seemed to really pick up the pace a bit and be able to push another cog at a slightly higher cadence.  i'm estimating that bad brains is good for an increase in terms of watts per kilogram for me on today's ride of 0.44 which is damned impressive.  my actual weight and wattage numbers are proprietary under union guidelines so i've already probably said too much.  so now i'm torn.  i loathe the joggers and cyclists i encounter on my commute who are not paying much attention owing to their ipods, but these things seem to have the possibility of a clear ergogenic effect.  we'll discuss this in more detail at the next supreme revolutionary council meeting for planning future cycling policy.

-sg