Launch Ramp To Slappy Rail

I'm Beginning To Like Andy Schleck

...Not to win the Tour de France, but as a dude and a bike racer.

He is showing a great deal of moxy and confidence in the face of all the "experts" saying that Contador will eventually win.

Even though Mongo also believes in that eventuality, A-Schleck is carrying himself like a champion and using savvy strategy to contain Contador...so far.

(Photo:Bettini/CyclingNews)

Riding The Storm Out: I Needed To Clean That Anyway

Back when Mongo lived in Miami, during the Summer months, you could set your watch by the afternoon thunderstorms. Every day around three a storm would pop up, dump some rain, and then it would clear up. The rest of your day was good to go.

Here in the ATL, the summer storms are random and frequent. Just when the ol' Doppler is telling you the coast is clear, thirty minutes later there is a monsoon ruining your ride...Which is what happened to me today.

I've only ridden once since the "Noah's Ark" edition of the 23/2300 Hammerfest last Monday. I did a medium forty on LPE on Thursday, and because of rain and work all week, today was to be another 40+ ride. Mongo only got in six miles...with two of those miles in the kind of weather that shuts down an airport.

What Will $420.00 Get You On Ebay?

Original, 1978, Wes Humpston designed Dogtown deck with Tracker trucks and Yo-Yo Pro wheels.

Cheaters: Always Looking Over Their Shoulders To See If They've Been Caught

(Photo:Bettini/CyclingNews)

I Wondered What Rhea Perlman Was Doing These Days

One of these people is a national hero and the greatest champion in French cycling history...The other person is Bernard Hinault.

(Photo:CyclingNews)

The Tour De France Needs More Of This...(And By This I Mean Chicks Who Would Normally Be In Ibiza This Time Of Year)

(Photo:Bettini/CyclingNews)

...And We'll Do It Again

(In German) "Yeah, I taught Renshaw the headbutt. Whaddya gonna do about it?"

"Oh...kick him out of the Tour. My bad!"

(Photo:Sirotti/CyclingNews)

Call It Aftermath

"An efficient and valuable man does what he can,
whether the community pay him for it or not.
The inefficient offer their inefficiency to the highest bidder,
and are forever expecting to be put in office."

(Henry David Thoreau)

Damn You Doppler Radar

It almost didn't happen...And though it ended up being pretty fun, it probably shouldn't have happened. I'm talking about, of course, the 23/2300 Hammerfest.

Apart from having a wide range of cycling talent on the Smyrna Bicycles Cycling Team, from Pro level to Snow Bunny level, we also have quite the plethora of amateur meteorologists. Prior to any ride, computers are alive with Al Roker disciples. Once the "Go for launch" signal is given, we can be pretty sure that there will be no rain.

Mongo won't go into the "technical" side of forecasting weather over the computer, but let's just say we got it wrong tonight. It was too bad because we had a nice turnout..."Big" Willie, "Little" Steven, "My reign as Hammerfest Champion is almost over" Clay, "Just got engaged" Boonen, "MC-Lean", "Danimal", "Snow Bunny", and a bunch of other guys, were all there. Noticeably absent was "Frady" Brady.

It poured like a mofo for at least half the ride, and braking became merely a suggestion when the levers were engaged. Everyone rode sensibly, and we eliminated several high-speed downhill sections. Mongo did manage to lead out the Sprint, but I faded with about 150 meters to go and was passed by... pretty much everyone.

One of the downsides to riding in the rain is how messed up your bike gets. Dirt, grease, liquefied brake dust, road scum, all find a way to get fused to the bike. I spent a good half-hour with the hose and some citrus degreaser after I got home.

-EPILOGUE-

Mongo has just learned that "Danimal" crashed on his way home tonight..."Damn you, Doppler radar!"

Who Needs A Hawk When You Can Have...

Let's See What You're Really Made Of

Well, well, well...isn't this interesting!

Mongo won't gloat on the fact that his least favorite cyclist has no chance of smelling the podium or even getting a top ten placing after all his crashing and whining in the first week of the TDF. But...here's where it gets good.

Will he suck it up and ride for the "Li'l Bronze Medalist", who is solidly positioned in eighth, or will he abandon the Tour in a couple of days like the punk-ass-bitch that I think he is and claim that his injuries make it impossible to continue? We shall see...but Mongo's money is on the latter.

(Photo:Bettini/CyclingNews)

Skeletor Is No She-Ra: Chavanel Wins Again

(Photo:CyclingNews)