All posts by Jon

Off the blog, across the pond…

If anyone noticed, I’ve neglected the site. Spending 2 months in Germany for work / school with my family precluded spending much time penning posts in the typical narrative style i prefer. Perhaps to somehow compensate for failing to document my experiences in a journal, I’ve taken maybe more photos than i typically do. (And I take alot)

The holy trinity

I got an Iph0ne four right before I left and have used it more than my point and shoot Pentax w90 and DSLR K7 combined! I also finally succumbed to instagram. There is no turning back now. Of course my flickr is updated regularly as well.

Philipp

Like I said, I have been working a ton and that has means that riding time has been less too. Lucky for me, hopping on the tandem is something my family really enjoys. And Phillip, of European Touches, and I have also managed to tackle some EPIC endeavors, like the Schauinsland König. Check out one of my favorite summer photos of him above.

Loaded up and rolling. Next stop Grenoble

That said perhaps one of my most EPIC trips of my life started today. Tomorrow Phillipp, our friend Karl and I are riding up Alp D’Huez Alpe d’Huez, Col du Sarenne and Col du Galibier. Also on our three day agenda are Col d’Agnel, Col d’Izoard, Mount Ventoux and more. We’ll see how I feel Wednesday night! Needless to say, I’ll have some brilliant blog material coming up as well attending Eurobike this month… I’ll be kickstarting this thing back into motion.

Common themes. Tunnels, Mission Workshop & Shimano groups

Red Bull Mini Drome – Orlando | Thursday, August 25th

Club Firestone
578 North Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32801

Rider Registration: 5pm to 7:15pm
Doors open: 7:30pm for Time Trials
Main event: 9:30pm

“Fixed-gear riders from across the US will take their street skills to the track in a test of mental stamina, technical precision and raw strength at Red Bull Mini Drome in Orlando on August 25th , 2011. From its roots across the pond, Red Bull Mini Drome will take its debut lap in the States with a stop at Central Florida’s own Club Firestone.

Red Bull Mini Drome brings skill, speed, balance, and braves together on a steep and shrunken version-far from the traditional velodrome, to give competitors the most challenging and treacherous ride of their lives.”

How from Atlanta is making the trip?!

Peachtree Bikes Sandy Springs Grand Opening!

This weekend Peachtree Bikes is celebrating the GRAND OPENING of their new store in Sandy Springs

EVERYTHING WILL BE ON SALE

On Saturday, from 4pm-8pm, They’ll be bustin’ out the keg, firin’ up the grill & crankin’ up the tunes in celebration of their newest store.

Free schwag will abound including a raffle of sweet gear, including a $250 Peachtree Bikes gift card!

Wear your Peachtree Bikes t-shirt to the Ribbon Cutting at 5pm & score extra raffle tickets!  Increase your chances of winning!

For all the details: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177315635657207

Peachtree Bikes Sandy Springs Grand Opening!

Faster Mustache at Dick Lane Velodrome’s WayPoint Systems presents ‘The Keirin’

The Keirin

The WayPoint Systems presents ‘The Keirin’ went down way back on May 14th.

This was day of solidarity and teamwork for FM:RACE.

A strong showing in all categories and the main Keirin event.

We welcomed a renewed and ever larger presence on the banks walls down in East Point.

Courtesy FrenchKheldar
Photo courtesy FrenchKheldar

Above is FM:Race recent addition Stafford Brooke. He faced off against a B field stacked with strong opposition.

In several well executed and unified advances, FM made some great attacks.

Below Chris Kelly pulls up track as Stafford and Jason Atwood complete a three man pull off the front

Jason, Stafford & Chris

Off the track the team was well represented as well with Jim Hodgson performing honorable deeds by belting out our nation’s anthem with style.

Great Singing from Jim

Another recently christend FM’er is Brian ‘Bubba T.’ Tester.

Brian really had the most savage duty of the day.

Pitted head to head against future Olympians, local PROs and current National Champions, he stomped out a solid effort competing against some of the fastest velodrome athletes in our country today.

Brian Tester

A personal highlight for me may have started below. Or at least the photo preambles the failed attempt that became my highlight of the day.

Justin Barber provided excellent coverage as I made my 110% blowout attempt off the front in the 15 Lap Win and Out.

Photo Courtesy Timothy J

In a split second, I decided to make an attack with two to go. The peloton had been going on and off and when everyone sat down I stood up. Not really considering entirely how viable my strategy would be. Thanks to Justin pushing my adversaries towards the boards and effectively slowing the whole pack down, I had way more of a chance then I ever would have had alone.

Thank you again Justin!

Photo Coutesy Carlos J

Pictured above and captured below by Colin Chappelle are two remnants of my valiant gesture.

Had I waited to sprint, the chance would have been gone but the win was just out of my reach at that distance!

Below is the day’s champ Matt Baranoski. A 17 year old track cyclist and specialist in sprint events and the keirin. Racing track since he was 6 years old at Lehigh Valley Velodrome. In just over 10 years, he has won numerous junior national championships, a medal at junior worlds and an elite national championship. And, now second time in a row, The DLV Keirin!

Matt Baranoski

More photos here and the day’s results are here. A write up of the preceding day’s Zipp Need For Speed Sprints is here.

Lastly, to convey how skullcrushingly brutal the final Keirin was, crank your measly computer speakers to 11, hit fullscreen and press play:

Thank you for a great event Jeff & co. I look for forward to years and years of Keirins at the DLV!

ALLEYCROSS II

After a long break, AlleyCross returns to the streets, parks and back alleys of Atlanta.

AlleyCross takes place over three 11 mile laps through the Highlands, Inman Park, Reynoldstown and Grant Park. Each lap has a mixture of paved streets, unpaved alleys, grass, stairs, barriers, cobbletones and dirt run-ups with a long finishing stretch on the Beltline trail.

Not an event for the weak hearted, the last staging of this race …saw stormy skies, causing two thirds of the field drop out before Jamie Pair and Josh Frank took the prizes for First Geared and First SS/Fixed. We can only hope for the same conditions this year.

All bikes are welcome. Though it is technically possible to ride all parts of the course on road tires, those with a little more volume under them will have a distinct advantage. Cyclocross bikes are strongly encouraged. There will be separate categories for geared and SS/fixed.

$5 gets you into the race. Cash to the winners (men’s and women’s).

Route map:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/34033546
It is strongly recommended that you ride the route before the race. The route will be marked on the road a few weeks before the 25th.

Text quoted from the event FB page and for for the last cue sheet way back in 2007 and on Myspace here. Flyer below:

ATL Alleycross

top image courtesy Philip Morrissey