this post by mark kerlin would probably have gone by, unnoticed by many.  and yet that is not correct.  underappreciated by the average mid-atlantic rider, language is the basis of so much that we do.  maybe part of the reason the revolution is not coming along as nicely as we had hoped is that you all are having problems expressing yourselves.  look at kerlin...

Riding track bike.
Looking down fiddling with toe straps.
Crash into back of parked car.
Broke three teeth, bent fortk. Larry Black bends fork back, bike then rode
better than before.
I recommend Dr. John Martin Turner, DDS at 1800 Eye St., NW.

this is beautiful free verse.  you think i'm kidding, but i'm not.  check it.  on the second line, the words seem to lollygag, the syllables flowing easily, one into another, like a stream meandering, or a stoned courier weaving around in traffic.  you can picture the beautiful spring day, just out spinning on the bike, and then, wham!!!!  the third line is blunt, stacatto, matter of fact.  reality hits you in the same way the rider hits the car.  the damage is severe, and yet there is a silver lining.  and the lighthearted referral in the last line leaves one knowing that the rider has moved on with life.  many messages may be taken from this text. 

so with this we initiate the racing union poetry contest.  we are fleshing out the details, but we have actual prizes and we think we have an actual poet to use as a celebrity judge.  you must submit your poems by email to poetry@racingunion.org.  there are no formal rules.  express yourself as you see fit.  please avoid being profane simply to be profane: this is a family oriented blog.  we'll post updates as we accumulate prizes and might even have a brief interview with the celebrity judge.  be sure to provide some sort of contact info.  any anonymous poems will be deleted.  you may use a pseudonym, and we will publish the poem with that, so long as we can link the poem back to you.

and now to kick things off, after reading the second half of kerlin's email, with it's considerably less poetic description of a race mistake, i offer a haiku interpretation of his day in reston. 

overcooked the corner
too much speed, too little tire
not brave, but reckless.

two wheel drift.  Uh oh….
muscles the bars over.  too much!
pavement and skin meet.

see kids, it's easy.  now get there and see what you can do.

- - - posted by scott

this past sunday, josh, our current tzar of the racing union ministry of culture and entertainment, made an official state visit to the racing union bunker, deep below the plaza de la revolucion.  his principal purpose was to help restore the glory and utility of a beautiful pinarello he had picked up.  i'm not sure of it's age but the slx tubing andcomponent group give a rough guide.  it has a sweet four color fade and a very old dura ace groupo, including dura ace downtube shifters.  this bike is very much the new-old hotness.  regrettably, i had left my camera at a super deluxe and maximally fun bicycle birthday party that mikhail (our current tzar of making up crappy excuses for why he worked so hard for his teammates and then they couldn't come through and seal the deal) threw for his son nils the day before so i cannot pass along pictures.

but luckily josh got some shots and sent them along.  and here's the main point of the post.  i need help from the people.  josh and i sort of broke down a bunch of parts of the bike to make sure everything was working well.  it was all good except for the bottom bracket.  i don't really think this is a problem per se, but i am very curious about it.  the derailleur cables are routed through a small metal bracket welded to the bb shell.  they were obviously intended to be cable guides, but this seems like a very poor design.  the friction of the cable rubbing against the bb shell can't be good.  i know this was an intened feature.  for example, you can see, if you look carefully, that the bottom bracket has a small plastic sleeve around it.  you can see the two a's from the end of the word "dura" and the start of the word "ace".  if you've worked on old bikes or bought old parts, you'll recognize the sleeve: it's part of the old dura ace bottom bracket and keeps the water away from the bearing assemblies.  it predates the current cartridge system.

here's another look from a veyr similar model that josh pulled off ebay...

so here's the question: should these cable guides be refitted with small routing tubes, with the cable running through the tubes and the tubes running through the metal bracket, to prevent the derailleur cables from wearing themselves or the frame down from rubbing back and forth?  I'm thinking about the old gore "ride-on" cables that came with small sections of bright yellow, hard plastic sleeve to prevent the gore membrane from getting crushed.  does anyone have first hand experience with this?  any suggestions?  i assume people ran these configurations for years so maybe it's not an issue.  any and all help is appreciated.

- - - posted by scott

just got a series of message from sim over in the south of france.  he just got a cushy gig covering a series of races including flanders.  he sent along some nice pictures showing some of the details of the race.  the text is from his emails...

cobbles: "And here's one for the fine people of DC.  If my memory serves me right, people are often complaining about pot-holes in DC and about the state of VA roads.... "

museeuw's super pimp'd ride: You thought Museuw had horse power?  Sure he did... and still does!  Check "da-man's" sweet, fuel guzzling, non-ecological Audi beast...Shuv that in your Eco-friendly pipe and smoke it.  No doubt about it, this one is on steroids...No need for a license plate on this bad boy... if you can't figure out who's car it is... well.... enough said.

and finally, a cake celebrating the event.  i broke out some shots detailing the details.

this one isfor rudy vercaine, the last flandrian in virginia.  when your country has an equally solid traditionat cycling and at sweets, well, you've got to roll hard.  and these guys roll hard.

and once you're done with the cakes, the kids can take the decorations and have little pretend races.  what's not to like.  i declare this union approved.

you can email sim here and reach him on the web through his workplace here.

- - - posted by scott

The Harrisonburg Crit was held on Saturday, April 28th.  The pros raced at 4:45, but I was there for the Cat 5 race.  Meanwhile, I took some pictures of some of the other races.

Here are some of the women racing (above), and the Men's 3/4 race (below).

That's me before (above) and during (below) the Cat. 5 race.

-- posted by Chris

This just in from the state of the art broadcast studios at Racing Union’s Ministry of Culture and Entertainment:

Broadcasting in life-like clarity to the latest and most technologically-advanced high definition televisions throughout the Racing Union (including those made from re-purposed produce containers by loyal workers in our tropical industrial cooperatives), film critic Comrade Peanut brings us news of three cycling movies playing in the occupied Washington, DC area over the next few weeks.  All members of the Racing Union Cinema Appreciation Society (RUCAS, not to be confused with RUCCAS, the Racing Union Commuter Climactic Alert System) are strongly encouraged to attend these films.

It is not too often that cycling movies are exhibited publicly, and it is especially rare that three cycling-related movies are showing within the next few weeks, so Comrade Peanut cannot emphasize enough that it is of the utmost importance that we citizens show our support. 

The first of the three movies is “24 Solo,” which was best described on the D-20 list by Artemis Racing’s Evelyn Egizi: “This movie is absolutely incredible! Even if you don't mountain bike, this movie appeals to anyone who appreciates bike racing or an inspirational story. The documentary follows Chris Eatough, 6-time World Champion of 24-hour solo mountain bike racing in his attempt for a 7th World title. If you heard the news stories after the race last year - the finish was more than dramatic...”  For more information about the film, you can visit its website at: http://24-solo.com

The film was made by Arlington-based documentarian Jason Berry, who also made the award-winning documentary “Off Road to Athens” (about mountain bike racers trying to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens).

Although one showing of “24 Solo” has already happened, there is another screening on Friday, April 27^th at 9:30pm at the Arlington Cinema n’ Drafthouse.  The movie is expected to sell out, but you can reserve tickets through: http://www.grippedstore.com/index.php?cPath=2_6

While Comrade Billington pooh-poohs those of us who like to go roundy-round at Hains Point at noon, we all know he’s just jealous he can’t get away to join us at lunch. 

But, change is in the air at the point – our old friend, “The Awakening,” is going to be dug up and moved:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/21/AR2007042101477.html?hpid=artslot.  Apparently, the old guy isn’t owned by the Park Service, but rather by some private entity who’s selling him to a developer trying to create some sense of place in his otherwise sterile suburban development.

The plan has met with some controversy, and I can’t say I disagree with the notion that because of the obvious controversy, “no wonder the purchase was kept secret.” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR2007042402027.html)  Raw Fisher, on the Post website has loads of information (including background on the artist, Seward Johnson -  http://www.sewardjohnson.com/site/index.html), and his column culminates in the suggestion that the developer is “stealing” a treasure:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/2007/04/the_hand_at_haines_point_steal.html

Still, it seems like all of this is a done deal.  I just hope it doesn’t screw up the noon Hains Point rides.  It also leads to an obvious question.  What’s going to fill the commemorative void at the point? 

A bicycle sculpture?

Some kind of pop culture reference?

A political statement?

Maybe something for the kids?

So what will we look up at as we go roundy-round?  What entity will exist at the point which will cause us to warn our fellow cyclists of clueless tourists trying to make it across the street?  One suggestion is the Titanic Memorial, a distraught woman who current looks out at the Washington Channel amidst the urban renewal mistake that is the SW waterfront.  A contest of sorts is described here:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/25/AR2007042502789.html

-- posted by Chris

Anyone catch the Sally Jenkins' column in today's Washington Post about Floyd Landis and doping?  You can find it here:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR2007042402594.html. 

One quote from the column which interests me is: "What should be an open-and-shut case has been confused by the sloppiness of the French lab, and the blindly prosecutorial behavior of the World Anti-Doping Agency and its underling, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which threaten to compromise the facts and make the accused, Landis, look like a victim."

OK, yeah, that sounds about right.  But I grew tired of this story not even a week after it broke.  Besides, everything you want to know about doping can be found here:  http://www.racingunion.org/CommentView,guid,fb399aa8-5df9-4b9a-a366-a9ae2d8fdb01.aspx,

here:  http://www.racingunion.org/CommentView,guid,b7221ef0-5b13-432d-83bc-c3a4d42571cc.aspx,

and especially here:  http://www.racingunion.org/CommentView,guid,1ab8bb45-ed7c-474a-bc3d-a12f3b797397.aspx

What's more interesting to me is our local Pravda's view of the sport of cycling:  In the Post's world, cycling is, apparently, almost exclusively about two items:  doping and the Tour de France (it used to be that the drop-down menu for the Post online didn't even have "cycling" as an option.  Instead, they had "Tour de France."  It's true!).  Oh, and don't forget about Lance Armstrong's problems with authorities because of a swimmin’ hole he installed at his dacha in Texas.

But, when it comes to the print edition of the Post (I'm not talking about all those AP stories you can get from the online version), try finding a real story about the Tour of Flanders or the Giro d'Italia.  Hell, you don't even have to go overseas – try finding out how things are going in the Tour of California or the Tour de Georgia.  I dunno, maybe they've run a story about the CSC Invitational.

But, then again, maybe not …

Maybe this critique is unfair since the Post's coverage of sports in general is lacking – unless, of course, it's dealing with every little minutia involving the professional football team which is located near Washington.  And it's probably unfair of me to single out the Post - the local media in general is due for some serious finger-waving.  And there's some bright spots.  But I have, on occasion, noticed a story printed in the Post about local amateur running events; and the Post’s coverage of high school sports have improved remarkably in the past few years.  They’ve even made some attempt at acknowledging the existence of the Washington Capitals. 

So, while acknowledging that it is perhaps a tad bit idealistic to expect the Post to actually cover some of the races in the Washington metro area, I'm wondering:  what’s it gonna take for the Post to cover some local amateur bike races?  Do we need a young super-star from Russia to join the scene here, like Alex Ovechkin with the Caps?  Maybe our own local doping scandal will grab the Post’s attention.  Recreational drugs?  Sex?  What will it take?  Have any suggestions to grab the local media’s attention; put ‘em in the comments section!

-- posted by Chris

enrique penalosa is one of my new heroes...

http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/physically-separated-bike-lanes/

another regrettable indication of the proclivity towards affluence amongst the upper echelons of the management of bicycle racing.  from the uci commisaire's communique on stage 1 of the tour of virginia:

we tend to look out for each other, our friends and our comrades.  but it is honestly with mixed feelings that i note the passing of comrade yeltsin. 

he had amazing flashes of brilliance and was capable of being among the best populists ever to stride the firmament.  but it's equally clear that as time went by, his flame burned a bit less brightly.  historians will find much to write about him and in 50 years, when the arcing storyline of what was the cccp is better understood, his role will be clearer.  we can probably celebrate the good things he was capable of doing while being mindful that we all have weakenesses.

instead of some stuffy sort of sermon, i suggest we tell anecdotes that show insight into what thre man was really like.  my favorite so far...

http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/2007/04/remembering-boris.html

-posted by dear leader

two equally impressive feats in one day.  feat number one: organizing and holding a tour of the tyson's corner area, from a bike rider's perspective, and getting only local community leaders and planners to attend so that they can discuss what they see and what sort of options exist.  amazing.  feat number two: getting the washington post to mention it.  fabb just continues to impress me with the amount of work they do and the quality of their planning.  their ability, as an organization, to focus their efforts such that people who can really make a difference (county officers, planners, represtatives) see the issues and understand the issues is admirable.

-sg

it's a sad day for the return of the union book club.  i had hoped to offer inspiraiton for the masses.  for those who chafe at the yoke of imperialist corporate oppression, a literary balm; for those who thirst for deeper knowledge of the revolution, a heady draught; and for those who yearn to further the union message, a constant companion and source of solace.

regrettably, i have found the opposite.  rather than an uplifting message for young cyclists, i have uncovered a conspiracy.  i can say with absolute conviction that up until yesterday, book burnings had seemed laughably stupid to me.  no longer.  the book being reviewed today is a purported children's book called messenger messenger by robert burleigh with illustrations by barry root.  it is subversive, and a clear violation of racing union thought.

this book appears to defy simple analysis.  it also appears to defy complex analysis.  i attempted to take a cue from roland barthes, and used the tools of structuralist poetics and literary deconstructionism, but found myself no closer to a breakthrough.  it's just not clear what message this treatise seeks to pass along to our youth on bikes.  because i am so unclear on where this book is going, i have attempted a sort of photo essay, in which i document the experience of reading it and the reactions of the union's young pioneers who have perused it as well. 

in the following picture, it's not clear if calvin is cold as in frigid or cold as in "stone cold freak".  i'm not down with the hipsters and their modern urban patois so i think i miss a lot.  even my five year old son thought he was smoking.  and what's with the beirut/haifa street landscape he's riding through.  it's surreal.  he's biking through a war zone with smoke coming out of his mouth.

lest you think the sketchy landscapes will give way to safer suburbs or the relative security of the big city, think again.  apparently a good part of messenger man's job is floating around exceedingly flaky locales and making pick ups and deliveries of non-descript materials.

but messenger man can't do it on angst or urbane cool alone.  no, he needs fuel.  my son took one look at this photograph and asked me if i rode my bike like this, with no hands, eating and drinking, with cars very close by.  i was dumbfounded.  you sort of have to wonder if the guy who drew this picture even knows what riding a bike in traffic is like.  there may be people stupid enough to try to pull this off, but i've never seen them.

if there's any upside, it's that he wears a helmet.  and though this is a positive, like so much else, it just seems to show how out of touch with bike couriers the illustrator is.  we all know that the cool couriers don't wear helmets.  and what's up with the circa-1976,white formula one car in the background?  this is simply a myserty wrapped in a puzzle shrouded by an enigma.

the sole member of the racing union's young pioneers who this was beta tested on seemed to take a shine to it, though he admitted to a considerable amount of confusion regarding the images and text.

attempts to debrief this child were made.  when this didn't go well, attepts to deprogram him from the hipster chic and surrealist guidance that the book contained were redoubled.  appropriate literature was substituted...

but was met with loud denunciations and threats of physical abuse.

so in closing, this book gets no hammers and sickles: the default rating system of the racing union book club.  oh, and formal orders have just been promulgated that...er...um....karl marx has been removed from the racing union young pioneer's official summer reading list and has been replaced with a 24 page glossy stock book called "ultimate nascar", a book about pirates and a book about a robot who is taught to swing on vines by monkeys.  this decision is, apparently, rather set in stone so appropriate orders to local community bookstores should be placed immediately by parents of young pioneers who serve in the vanguard of the revolution.  that is all.

-dear leader