Stanley Park

“Disguised in the eyes of the matter of fact
The message in the understatement lost in a flash of pain
Tears through the years of the spoken not heard
What is the trigger that revolves the chamber?
Lies brought the prize for the latch key kid
Drenched in self-awareness while spitting out venom
Awakened and shaken to the core of reinvention

Pride subdued by wisdom in the end"

Reppin' The Homeland

It seems like every European country held their national TT championships this week. Just a week or so prior to Le Tour, all the winners are getting fitted for a skin suit rocking their country's colors. It's an opportunity for Phil and Bob and Paul to point out on TV that that is in fact Lukasz Bodnar, the Polish TT National Champion, finishing in 87th place.

Up From The Ashes

As I stated very early on in the blog, Mongo is not a big fan of skateboard magazines. As a for-profit business, they have an obligation to highlight the facets of skateboarding that are representing the most interest and generating the most revenue. Unfortunately for Mongo, street-skating and fashion tend to dominate the pages of all the magazines these days.

I love skateboarding in all it's forms, and what these kids can do on the street is amazing...but it's just not my bag. As an old timey skater from the 70's and 80's, vert, park, and tranny skating have always been my thing. Adams, Alva, Mountain, Miller, Grosso, Caballero, Hawk, Hosoi, Way, Burnquist...These are Mongo's influences.

I was pleasantly surprised to read in the August issue (It's June) of Transworld an intelligent and comprehensive look at the state of vert skating through the eyes and words of some of it's most respected practitioners.

Lance Mountain and Danny way particularly, cut through the bullshit of niche skating, and as oracles of the sport they remind us all why we ride.

Freak On A Leash

After taking last Monday off due to a horrendously bad performance the week prior, Mongo re-joined the peleton this week for the Smyrna Bicycles-Alp d'Huez-Mont Ventoux-Vinings Loop-Hammerfest.

I have to say, it was one the most eclectic groups of the season so far. Boonen was there on his tri-cross bike wearing the ugliest shorts ever. Triathlon James was there on his road bike wearing his usual uncomfortably short tri-bib. Young Jimmy was there in his full Blue team kit.(Jimmy rides a Giant) And then there was Gary...

Gary wears normal shorts...but that's where normal ends. Gary rides a carbon fiber Kestrel set up in full TT mode...but with a custom configured drivetrain. It has a single 53T ring up front with a 5 speed, 13-23 cluster in the back. I was sure that there was no way in hell that he was going to be able to haul himself up and over some of the climbs on the loop. I was wrong.

On the steepest hills, everyone is maxed out on their gearing. Either 39/25, 34/25, or 30/23. Gary was riding with a gearing of 53/23. Without going into a Sheldon Brown essay on gear ratios or gear inches, lets break this down a different, simpler way.

If you divide the front chainring number by the cog number you'll get a third number that tells you how many times the rear wheel rotates with every turn of the cranks. Theoretically, the bigger the number the harder it is to pedal. 39/25=1.56...34/25=1.36...30/23=1.30...And finally for Gary...53/23=2.3 Wow! The incremental difference is staggering.

I always knew he was a beast on the flats, but to be able to climb with that setup is amazing.

Prisoners Of Technology

You know by now that among many other vices, Mongo likes to rock while cycling. It shuts me off from the pesky outside world and allows me to get into whatever kind of zone is needed.

My last mp3 player died about three weeks ago...and I didn't hurry to replace it. My thinking was that riding sans tunes would bring me back to the pure essence of cycling.

Man and machine working in harmony, wind in my ears, aware of the elements...yadda, yadda, yadda! Let me just tell you, that shit is overrated.

I heard noises coming from my bikes that I'd never heard before...none of them good.

What followed was three weeks of a meticulously anal search and eliminate mission on all my noises. Though mostly successful, I decided to get a new mp3 player anyway.

I bought this little baby at Best Buy for $59.99. It has 2GB of memory, tons of great functions, a clip on the back, and it's smaller than the picture.

"What's that...I can't hear you."

Where's The Beef?

The Tour de Suisse folded up shop yesterday and added another chapter to what has been a great year, on the road, for pro cycling...so far.

The only guy who could make Michael Rasmussen look fat, Roman Kreuziger, cruised home on the final stage to edge out AK47 by 49 seconds for the overall win.

Swiss homeboy, Fabian Cancellara, executed another perfect solo breakaway to take the stage win.

Did You Miss It?

Yesterday (June 21st) was National Go Skateboarding Day.

I know Mongo and Andy Mac were out there ripping...were you?

Revenge...Bandit Style

Roman Kreuziger wins the penultimate stage of the Tour de Suisse, and carries a 49 second overall lead into the final stage on Sunday.

Unfortunately, the person sitting in second is none other than Mongo's guy, Andreas Kloden.

AK47 has done a strong tour,(Top ten in KOM and Points along with second on GC) but it looks like Kreuziger has enough time on him to win...and redeem his second place finish to Kloden at the Tour de Romandie.

I like Liquigas to be a major player when they get their big guns together and head to France.

I Love This Guy

Perhaps the only man in pro cycling who can make a solo breakaway with under 10K to go...and make it stick.

Fabian Cancellara holds off the sprinters by mere seconds to win yesterdays stage.

Mother...If You Wanna Find Hell With Me

Star on the rise and Danzig impersonator, Kim Kirchen, wins Stage 6 of the Tour de Suisse and takes the overall lead.

AK47 puts in a game effort to finish second on the day and move into sixth place on GC.

Shelter From Pigs On The Wing

“ Who am I if I come from nowhere?
An anonymous transaction under the veil of shame.
Who am I if I come from nowhere?
A mistake, bad timing, this is my legacy.
Who am I if I come from nowhere?
A solution, a second chance, I fill the aching void.
Who am I if I come from nowhere?
A simple answer, a lifetime of questions.”

Not So Lucky

Mongo does a great deal of his riding surrounded by Nature. It may seem ironic, because my legend is growing locally as one of the premier "Highway" riders in the state, but Mongo loves some peace and quiet.

The down side to riding with Nature is... Nature itself. Animals, specifically.

Squirrels, Rabbits, Deer, Snakes, Hawks, Owls, Raccoons, Bigfoot...All have come into play at one time or another while Mongo was riding.

My point is this... We are intruding on these unsolicited spectators, so it's our responsibility to make sure we do our best not to harm them.(*)

(*) In good conscience, Mongo has to admit that he has, sadly, committed a Chipmunkicide in his past.

Turns Out Robbie McEwen's A Douchebag

After winning yesterday's stage, McEwen kept everyone at the podium waiting because he was on the phone. Nice!

He was giving an interview to a Belgian media outlet(His team is based in Belgium) even though the rules of the race state that he must give his first interview to Swiss TV. After being informed of this and possible ramifications, McEwen passed the F-bomb around like an eight-ball at one of Tom Boonen's parties.

His disparaging remarks and lack of class have got the mild mannered Swiss up in arms. To add insult to injury...he won again today!