A Campag Man

August 30, 2008 · Filed Under General · 1 Comment

I was sent this from an un-named source in South Africa. It’s an excert from www.bicycling.co.za , I’m tipping it’s from the Q&A section. As a Campag man myself I just had to share it with you. Although I do not believe that Campy does not have a marketing department!

I’ve seen guys with a Campagnolo tatoos. I’m a Shimano man through and through. Would it be cool to get a Shimano tatoo? - Chris Muggleston
‘Mainstream’ is the key word here, Chris. Shimano is amainstream, mostly because it is damn efficient, reliable and avaliable. And Japanese. Campagnolo is not mainstream, mostly because it is so damn efficient, reliable an limited in avaliability. And Italian. Everyone knows when Shimano is bringing out a new model of groupset well in advance because Shimano uses a marketing team and a multi-million-dollar advertising budget to tell the world this. Campagnolo just puts a new groupset on display at Eurobike once every few years and lets its devout fans do the marketing with their unlimited passion budget. If you’re a mainstream kind of guy, Chris, and proud of it, get a Shimano tatoo. But get one of those temporary tats. Just in case you one day ride a bike with a Campy Groupset…

Tags: A Campag Man, Campagnolo, Shimano

Season 2008/2009

August 21, 2008 · Filed Under Cycling · Comment

And so we begin again, after month of sitting on the couch watching the pros do their thing it’s now my turn to get back in the saddle for the 2008/2009 social summer series. Let me emphasise the “Social” aspect

The past two nights I’ve found myself sitting on the wind-trainer spinning the legs with the iPod to drown out the constant humm from the trainer. After dragging out the old bib nicks (the ones that can no longer be seen in public due to the fact the teams strip has now changed… you know the ones!) Legs no longer shaved… I call this the winter coat, legs no longer prepared to push the “Number 7” setting on the trainer.

This winter has been my worst ever, I haven’t even wanted to look at the bikes and finally the Mrs had me concerned that I would give into a Diabetes or heart failure. Sometimes it’s not the best thing to share your life with a health care professional that is surrounded by illness and handicaps. You tend to get a rude wakening what is out there. The moral on this paragraph is Use it or lose it!

Wind Trainer – Night #1:
Well a sat on old Matt (CAAD7 now been relegated to a wind trainer bike and not much else) for a total of 40 minutes which was an ok effort, the legs felt ok… but then again I’ve dropped the settings to allow a pain free spin to take place. I’m looking at spending the next 6 weeks in base work until I get back the legs.

Wind Trainer – Night #2:
Mmmm… saddle sore, yes it’s that same old feeling. When arse meets seat it’s a relationship that never quite works after a long break off the bike. I warmed up and nailed a good 40min session, this weekend it’s back on the road and I’m sure the legs will complain.

Tags: Cycling Training, Season Begins, Wind Trainer

Let the Games begin.

August 9, 2008 · Filed Under Cycling, General · 1 Comment

The British mens track team

Very few pitures speak for themselves. There is nothing more that I can say then have a look at the British Mens Track team in practise.

Tags: British Mens Track Team, Games, Velodrome

Beijing Olympics

August 6, 2008 · Filed Under Cycling, General · 3 Comments

It’s time for the world to stop and watch in ore at the sports men and woman as they all get together for a massive wing ding in Beijing. All the news here in Oz to date has been the pollution, almost all the stories on any channel including the interweb have been about athletes and how they plan on coping with the pollution. I came across a story on the US MTB team, they are staying 600 miles away, flying in to do a training ride and have a look at the village then heading back to their base. They will not return until race day and then leave again straight after the race. Can’t say I blame them, every image you see of the city is clouded by smog.

Orginistations to take a look at.

As I have no intention of starting a political debate I’d just like to state that I’m not 100% for the Olympics being held in China. Human Rights may need to be addressed, in a way maybe China having the Olympics will help in the long run with the amount of media exposure that the games will bring.

Free Tibet

Boycott Beijing 2008

The actual Road Race Profile, Thanks to a comment posted by the FlyingFinn and others on my original post a few months back.

Road Race Update:
Its looks like a ripper of a course, The Australians have a pretty good looking team in the road race. The team is made up of the following Aussie legends Simon Gerrans, Matthew Lloyd, Cadel Evans and Stuart O’Grady, The time trail will be contested by non other than the 3 times world ITT Champion Michael Rogers, Evans might take up the wildcard spot on the ITT if his knee holds out in the Road event. COME ON LADS, a medal is all I ask… no pressure

Beijing Road Race Profile