un mas

The real Dave.

Gang of Four is the music. The ass is Reuben's

Pictua Evolution

Ever gone sledding at 8,500ft?

Video today. Pictures later. Okay Pic's today too.!
This is about 5 minutes into a 30min descent. These turns are wide open, but when it starts getting tighter I had to use both hands, so the camera went away. The Planet Cross might not be the best for high speed road descents, but all you have to do is get forward, lean hard on the front and force that wheel into the pave'. Step extra hard on the outside. Otherwise it wants to float away from the corner. I got a taste of the floating front wheel the first day. (Not the Stitches incident).

BUilt to Spill: Bad light

We're doing the speed limit. The last 10min of this road usually involves passing cars at 45mph.

We went higher than ever up the highest mountain pass in Europe today. Made it to the 8,500ft point, before the snow stopped us. Skiers were riding past and below us when we had to turn about.
Made a visit to the Alahambra.
No entiendo? Graffiti wizz..

The Missing Day

Tim's photo's will take care of the ride to the snow line documentation that I missed. Missing this ride bummed me. How's that Jeff?

On Bike, Dave shows up, Apocalypse Now

Our kind of roads.
Janel went with pink tassels for her last ride.

Say hi Dave


Last climb of the trip took us up Monachil. A regular in the Vuelta Espana. Everyone managed the 18% grades with grace, which was a good sign after 22 hrs of riding.

Dave showed up. Turns out he was late because of a missing bike, and a bus ride from Malaga. Upon his drunken arrival, we learn of his zip-lock bag of piss. A full bladder and unrelenting bus driver equal to a McGyver situtation. With people across the aisle, Dave filled it up to almost unclosable, and spilled not a drop.
Janel and Paula were stunned. We warned them.

While sick, make pies. Or promote Sponsors

Today I'm off the bike. A little illness can go along way, in the internet world. Here in Granada the day was beautiful, but as we rode out of town my throat felt like a landing strip for abandoned planes. Each breath in was a rough landing without wheels. So I packed it in, went back to the apartment and slept.
Fortunately it's a good time to catch up on some product highlighting. Below are a couple of my gracious sponsors. These people are important because they believe in what I want to do and their products take one less obstacle out of my way. Racing a bike is a lot about overcoming things: gravity, pain, mental shortcomings, rocks, the desire to stop and take a nap.
These people help me do the above.

Stan's NoTubes
The Latest thing to show up on my door steps are new Rotors, and Sealant from Stan's NoTubes. I already have their rims outfitted on my INine Wheelsets, so these are the star atop the tree.
The highlight of these aluminum rotors are their paltry 59 grams, each. Stan's gives them a special coating so they can be run in all weather conditions. I've got three rides on them, to break them in. As warned on the web site they do have a little less stopping power, but will still be my rotor of choice for most races. And I can use the organic or semi-metallic pads. No more special Green pads.
There is something different about these two bottles.

On the other hands ERGON, came through with the latest set of race grips..La GX1. When I was down in Georgia I was shocked at the number of people who didn't know about the wonders of Ergon grips. I raced these all last year and when it comes to comfort, these are amazing. The platform reduces hand and arm fatigue.
The difference between the GX1 and the Gp1 is the increased finger wrap possible because of the shallower wing. I like this much better for technical descending and jumping logs. And it comes in the small grip size I prefer.
Jeff sent me 4 extra pairs so I could start a demo program. So if anyone out there is interested in trying these out let me know. They also come in with bar ends.
GP1 GX1
Notice the shallower wing on the GX1. Makes a huge difference.

Gotta go...Thanks to Ergon and Stan's!!

Granada part Deux

We got Clients now so the fun is just beginning. Paula and Janel have joined the forces, and now we are a semi complete unit. Paula's arrival started a little shaky when we couldn't find her upon arrival, but a quick drink and she was put at ease. Janel's arrival was quite smooth, and was also quickly followed by her going to sleep and Tim, Paula, TOph and I going to a nifty bar, that felt like an old wooden boat buried underground. The smoke was thick but the spontaneous bursts of impromptu Flamenco style music diluted the air nicely.
Then we went riding....



Ate cheese and visited the Alahambra..

Chin Jamming in Granada

Here we are. Spain 2.0 08. For everyone who decided they had better places to be or ways to spend their money. Sorry you opted out. Pushing through the oceanic barrier, to the euro exchange.

We took Tim to the best of our last days from last year. The cross bike inspired some off the front confidence. I payed for my hubris by kissing the earth. Shoved rocks in my face, knees and hands. We got a good lesson in socialized medicine. After picking myself up, Rick came over and asked if I was okay. My response was "only if I don't need stitches in my chin." After a half second look from Rick, I knew what what I was in from the look on his face. A little bit of stars floating in the air, but I felt fine so we jumped on the bikes to get down the last 6km of gravel descending to the town of Lanjaron. 20 feet later Tim flats and I decided to role down alone, and begin the search for a medic.

So while I'm riding down watching the bike get splattered slowly from the dripping chin, I think about La Ruta when Jeremiah Bishop had to finish a similar descent with a broken jaw and nose. Made my trip seem minor. At the bottom, I stood on the corner next to the closed restaurant wondering if I was scaring the families. Eventually I grabbed some napkins off the table, and while holding it over my jam spout I started asking people if they knew where a doctor was. The genuine concern from folks was heart warming, and by the time Tim and Rick showed I had a general direction to go.

I testify that socialized medicine did me great. After being led to the clinic by a local elder who spoke no english, we walked in and was out in 20min, no charge! In time to ride the hour and half home just before dark.
BUT!!! there was a price to pay. How about, it started with a quick shave. It suddenly becomes very clear why cyclist shave. The doc came at me with a one bladed plastic razor and proceeded to remove my 3week stubble around the juice one hair at a time. I figured he was going to inject me with a local anesthetic soon. But after a clean out with iodine, and the shave, I realized there would be no lidocain injections.
Doctor's various quotes inluded:
"Little pain"
"Sensation"
"Rambo"
Say these to yourself in any order, repeatedly with a spanish accent.

Still the riding has been great. And Semana Santa is once again in full effect.